America’s Tech-Savvy President Understands Internet Issue

[N'Zinga Shani]

It certainly pays to have a tech-savvy president who understands this Internet issue.  Here is what is puzzling: why would anyone objects to someone else, and in particular to the President of the United States being technically savvy!?

This is about civic engagement, public good and equity for average Americans.

 F.C.C. Net Neutrality Rules Clear Hurdle as Republicans Concede to Obama

By JONATHAN WEISMAN, FEB. 24, 2015

 WASHINGTON — “Senior Republicans conceded on Tuesday that the grueling fight with President Obama over the regulation of Internet service appears over, with the president and an army of Internet activists victorious. (Thanks to the President and all those who joined in the fight for Internet freedom and equal accessibility.)

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote to regulate the Internet as a public good.  On Tuesday, Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, all but surrendered on efforts to overturn the coming ruling, conceding Democrats are lining up with President Obama in favor of the F.C.C.”

The new F.C.C. rules are still likely to be tied up in a protracted court fight with the cable companies and Internet service providers that oppose it, and they could be overturned in the future by a Republican-leaning commission. But for now, Congress’s hands appear to be tied.

The F.C.C. plan would let the agency regulate Internet access as if it is a public good. It would follow the concept known as net neutrality or an open Internet, banning so-called paid prioritization — or fast lanes — for willing Internet content providers.

In addition, it would ban the intentional slowing of the Internet for companies that refuse to pay broadband providers. The plan would also give the F.C.C. the power to step in if unforeseen impediments are thrown up by the handful of giant companies that run many of the country’s broadband and wireless networks.

Republicans hoped to pre-empt the F.C.C. vote with legislation, but Senate Democrats insisted on waiting until after Thursday’s F.C.C. vote before even beginning to talk about legislation for an open Internet. Even Mr. Thune, the architect of draft legislation to override the F.C.C., said Democrats had stalled what momentum he could muster.

Bottom line, Republicans wanted the best of the Internet to be reserved for the wealthy. Had the Republicans and the monster companies won this battle and got their way, the Internet would no longer be as it is today.  By the time the rest of the country realized what had happened, it would have been too late.  Yet, many ask - what was the President doing why he did not respond to this or to that smaller issue.  Of course, some of us want to know -- when does he sleep?  Read all about this tech battle in the New York Times linked below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/25/technology/path-clears-for-net-ne...?