Comments on: Speech, Democracy, and Open Internet Regulations http://broadbandpolitics.com/2009/12/speech-democracy-and-open-internet-regulations/ On the theory and practice of networking Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:33:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Richard Bennett http://broadbandpolitics.com/2009/12/speech-democracy-and-open-internet-regulations/comment-page-1/#comment-429040 Richard Bennett Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:51:03 +0000 http://broadbandpolitics.com/2009/12/speech-democracy-and-open-internet-regulations/#comment-429040 The funniest thing was all the criiticism of fast lanes by people who stream their videos out of blip.tv and YouTube; they don't even know they're already in the fast lane. This workshop was part of the Net Neutrality proceeding rather than the Broadband Plan, so it was organized by a different part of the FCC, the Office of Strategic Planning. I have to agree that it was less balanced than Kevin Martin's Comcast hearings, which is saying something. While it appears that OSP has taken the gloves off here and elsewhere (the moderation of the Cybertelecom-l e-mail list by an OSP employee has gotten pretty aggressive in the last few days as well -- any unwelcome POV is simply banned) it may not be totally intentional. Glenn Reynolds submitted comments that were critical of the proposed regulations, but steered away from the disagreeable parts during the actual workshop. I have reason to believe that OSP expected more spine from him than that, so as it was Corn-Revere had to do all the heavy lifting by himself. The funniest thing was all the criiticism of fast lanes by people who stream their videos out of blip.tv and YouTube; they don’t even know they’re already in the fast lane.

This workshop was part of the Net Neutrality proceeding rather than the Broadband Plan, so it was organized by a different part of the FCC, the Office of Strategic Planning.

I have to agree that it was less balanced than Kevin Martin’s Comcast hearings, which is saying something. While it appears that OSP has taken the gloves off here and elsewhere (the moderation of the Cybertelecom-l e-mail list by an OSP employee has gotten pretty aggressive in the last few days as well — any unwelcome POV is simply banned) it may not be totally intentional.

Glenn Reynolds submitted comments that were critical of the proposed regulations, but steered away from the disagreeable parts during the actual workshop. I have reason to believe that OSP expected more spine from him than that, so as it was Corn-Revere had to do all the heavy lifting by himself.

]]> By: Brett Glass http://broadbandpolitics.com/2009/12/speech-democracy-and-open-internet-regulations/comment-page-1/#comment-429039 Brett Glass Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:40:23 +0000 http://broadbandpolitics.com/2009/12/speech-democracy-and-open-internet-regulations/#comment-429039 This panel was the most one-sided yet -- even more so than the two Comcast hearings. In fact, there wasn't even anyone present to correct the most obviously incorrect statements (whether they were intentionally false or merely due to ignorance). Perhaps the most astonishingly absurd statement was the claim that tiered pricing of Internet services amounted to a "poll tax." If that's true, then so is charging for gasoline by the gallon (assuming that you drive to the polls). This panel was the most one-sided yet — even more so than the two Comcast hearings. In fact, there wasn’t even anyone present to correct the most obviously incorrect statements (whether they were intentionally false or merely due to ignorance).

Perhaps the most astonishingly absurd statement was the claim that tiered pricing of Internet services amounted to a “poll tax.” If that’s true, then so is charging for gasoline by the gallon (assuming that you drive to the polls).

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