CORRUPTION WATCH-Congratulations to the FCC. On Thursday the FCC approved the regulation of broadband Internet service under Title II. This simply means that broadband services that are provided by cable television and wireless telephone providers are now to be treated as common carrier public utilities. These regulations will serve to keep the Internet free and open pursuant to the net neutrality that we enjoy today.
Protecting the Internet is essentially to safeguard democracy in America. While six companies in the United States mostly control broadcast television and cable television stations, the Internet remains property of the public.
Last year when the FCC proposed to create two Internets from the one that exists today, I was proud to express my criticism of such a plan. I was fortunate enough to have CityWatch as a forum to share those views. Subsequently millions of Americans would go on to express their views to the FCC about their displeasure with the proposed changes that would benefit broadband operators.
The chairman of the FCC, Tom Wheeler (photo below right), showed great fortitude in his willingness to reverse himself and his proposal in favor of rules that protect the general public and the Internet. Let us congratulate the FCC for their willingness to listen to the public and to take appropriate action in response to the public's outcry.
The new rules are being called a civil rights victory. More importantly it is one of the rare times when the will of the people has been honored. The FCC asked for comments from the public and received more than 4 million responses. More than 90% of responses were in favor of maintaining net neutrality, as we know it today. Everyone's information is to be treated the same and no one is given priority because they are able to shell out additional funds to get it.
In early 2014, while Los Angeles Times and most major newspapers ignored the net neutrality issue, independent Internet sites such as CityWatch were vigilant in providing a forum for those who disagreed with proposed regulations by the FCC at that time. In the last two weeks the Los Angeles Times has run approximately 20 articles about net neutrality and the proposed FCC change in regulations. Unfortunately, their interest in net neutrality came after the comment period specified by the FCC. The comment period was the most important aspect that changed the FCC proposal to its current format.
The process that allowed the public to be heard reflects the independence that the FCC has sought to maintain for the Internet. Without this independence the will of the people could not have been properly expressed to make everyone aware of the impending catastrophe of creating a fast Internet and a slow Internet. Once you allow broadband providers to start tampering with your flow of information they shall do that which maximizes their profits. Such is rarely in the best interest of the general public.
The proposal to create two Internets from one would have effectively stifled creativity and competition. By allowing private companies to limit Internet access to those able to pay extra fees would only act to limit innovation in the market. Having watched cable television’s behavior over the past twenty years we all know the lack of trust that the public has for the industry. Three of the five most hated companies in America are cable television companies. Do we really want to trust our future to companies that we hate?
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Let's not forget that all broadband services, including wireless services, are provided on public right of ways. None of the broadband providers own the right of ways they use to provide the electronic services for the Internet. The public rights of way should be for the benefit of the public. They are not for the exclusive profitability of the corporations that have been allowed to use.
The Internet is the primary competitor for cable television as we go forward. It is not hard to understand why cable television wants to keep control of the Internet and prevent it from operating freely.
While the public may have won the battle at the FCC, the battle for the Internet is far from over. Elected officials who have received large contributions from the cable television and wireless industries are preparing legislation to destroy the FCC regulations that have been put in place. It is not hard to find those that are willing to sell the public's best interest to the highest bidder. Simply look at who got the most contributions from the cable and wireless industries and you'll find the sponsors of legislation to thwart the FCC protection of net neutrality.
(Clinton Galloway is the author of the fascinating book “Anatomy of a Hustle: Cable Comes to South Central LA”. This is another installment in an ongoing CityWatch series on power, influence and corruption in government … Corruption Watch. Galloway is a CityWatch contributor and can be reached here.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 18
Pub: Mar 3, 2015
