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Democrat Win May Be Good News For Internet Policy

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the little-from-column-a-little-from-column-b dept.

Null Nihils writes "Following the pivotal U.S. Midterm elections, things look hopeful for a free and open Internet, but the likelihood of progress in terms of copyright and privacy legislation is still uncertain. At any rate, it isn't hard to see a shift in U.S. information technology policy coming over the horizon. Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), strong supporters for Net Neutrality, will most likely take command of Internet policy, but Democrat commitments regarding privacy, data retention, and digital copyright have yet to be made certain. A C|Net article discusses the likely shift in priorities at Capitol Hill. 'If (Democrat Rick) Boucher gets the nod as chairman, a broadcast flag becomes far less likely and changes to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's anti-circumvention sections become politically feasible ... If Rep. Howard Berman, however, gets the job, the recording industry and motion picture industry will have a staunch ally as subcommittee chairman.'"

4 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Who wrote this headline? Off base I'd say... by PenguinRadio · · Score: 5, Informative

    Look here:

    http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?typ e=industryNews&storyID=2006-11-09T091511Z_01_N0945 8311_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-DEMOCRATS-DC.XML

    "I'm trying to contain my joy," MPAA chairman and CEO Dan Glickman told The Hollywood Reporter.

    Look at the fact--Rep. John Conyers take over Judiciary. You can say 'Boucher is great, or Berman is bad' but they are minor players compared to Conyers and the power of the chairmanship (Conyers was the author of the 'analog hole' bill along with a host of other bidding on behalf of the RIAA).

    Stop drinking the Kool-aid. This was no better a result than the previous crowd staying in control...

  2. Re:Rose Colored Glasses by gowen · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sure, signed into law. All that means is that he didn't consider it important enough to veto, as a lame duck President. I was introduced in the House by Howard Coble (R-NC) and passed by a Republican controlled House and a Republican Senate.

    --
    Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
  3. Ted Stevens is no longer chairman of the commerce by Serveert · · Score: 4, Informative

    committee in the senate.

    I think we can all be happy about that.

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    2 years and no mod points. Join reddit. Because openness is good.
  4. Re:Rose Colored Glasses by Travoltus · · Score: 4, Informative

    ... and sent to Clinton by a Republican Congress.

    Let's hope the Democratic Congress can be the agent for change here.

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    --- Grow a pair, liberals... stop letting the Republicans bully you!