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Net Neutrality Still Lives

Posted by kdawson on from the not-dead-yet dept.

BuhDuh writes "Despite previous reports, and as subsequently discussed here, it appears that Sen. Feinstein's amendment (PDF) did not make it into the approved 'HR1' version of the stimulus bill (PDF). Of course, I cannot aver to having read all 680 pages, but searching for the terms Ms. Feinstein used came up blank, so it looks like we can breathe a collective sigh of relief until someone tries to bury similar proposals in the next wide-ranging, must-pass piece of legislation."

13 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. well then.... by ILuvRamen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well then let me be the first to say on behalf of slashdot: "Take that you stupid, bill-hijacking, lobbyist bribed bitch!"

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    Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
  2. Re:net neutrality by Kokuyo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can understand someone wanting to keep their cat's fur trimmed... it's just more practical that way... but do come on... shaving the cat is a bit over the top, no?

  3. Luckily by iminplaya · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We have this new fangled internet thingy that makes it a little more difficult to hide these things. Hope is indeed alive. As for the change part, well that's up to us. Now... about this Conyers bastard... and Hatch, and Lieberman.. I suppose there's little chance of getting rid of them while they bring home the bacon. Stop voting for these people!

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    What?
  4. This news by MRe_nl · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not so new...

    "I just called Feinstein's office and..." (Score:1)
    by rev_deaconballs (1071074) on Wednesday February 11, @10:37PM (#26819353)
    "It did not make it into the congress revision."

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    "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
    1. Re:This news by cemulli · · Score: 4, Informative

      As the weirdo who's actually obsessively following the actual progress of the bill text, February 11th was after it didn't get into the Senate version. Feinstein was still trying to get it into the final version when the Senate and House met to work out a compromise to get the REAL final version of the bill done so they could vote on it and send it to Obama. The meeting finished late last night on 2/13. I haven't been able to find the updated bill text *anywhere*, so I was happy as hell when I saw this posting. Until I scrolled down to the next to last page and saw that the PDF was the version from when the House passed the initial pre-Senate version on 1/28. So yeah, the lack of Feinstein language in that PDF means nothing. The reason there wouldn't be any Feinstein language in that version of the bill was because that's the version from BEFORE the Senate got their hands on it.

  5. Huh? by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why is it that so many "Liberal Democrats" are against things like Net Nutrality and copyright / patent reform? I would have though they would be all over it, but instead are more repugnant on the issue than Repugnians.

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    1. Re:Huh? by ForrestFire439 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They're just as in bed with the lobbyists as the Republicans are. Perhaps even more so in this case because the majority of media corporations are in blue states like California.

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      "Bread and Circuses is the cancer of democracy, the fatal disease for which there is no cure." --Robert Heinlien
  6. Read the bills! by moosesocks · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can we please, for the love of God, pass something resembling the Read the Bills act.

    Although I don't necessarily agree with its libertarian ideological roots, it's absolutely absurd that a 600 page bill can be proposed and voted on before sufficient time has been given to read over and debate the entire thing.

    The 7-day comment also sounds like a good idea, as long as there's a provision for emergency action.

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    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
    1. Re:Read the bills! by iminplaya · · Score: 4, Insightful

      but aren't they unproductive enough as it is?

      That's their one saving grace.

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      What?
    2. Re:Read the bills! by jcnnghm · · Score: 4, Informative

      The bill wasn't 600 pages, it was 1,073. The Democrats initially promised that it would be made available online for at least 48 hours before it was voted on, however, they lied, and voted on it less than 12 hours after it was presented to the Representatives. To read the bill, it would have required reading about two and a half pages a minute from the time they received the bill until the vote. The bottom line is, the Democrats rushed it through so nobody would have a chance to read it.

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      You don't make the poor richer by making the rich poorer. - Winston Churchill
  7. It's actually in the bill. by DragonTHC · · Score: 5, Informative

    from page 656 of the stimulus bill

    10 (e) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.--The NTIA shall--
    11 (1) adopt rules to protect against unjust enrich12
    ment; and
    13 (2) ensure that grant recipients--
    14 (A) meet buildout requirements;
    15 (B) maximize use of the supported infra16
    structure by the public;
    17 (C) operate basic and advanced broadband
    18 service networks on an open access basis;
    19 (D) operate advanced wireless broadband
    20 service on a wireless open access basis; and
    21 (E) adhere to the principles contained in
    22 the Federal Communications Commission's
    23 broadband policy statement (FCC 05-151,
    24 adopted August 5, 2005).

    all broadband stimulus grants will be subject to network neutrality.

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    They're using their grammar skills there.
  8. Feinstein got outed by Dan667 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Feinstein probably mis-calculated that this would pass before anyone would discover this amendment. It got pulled, because of the negative publicity it generated that might have caused the whole bill from not being passed. Lieberman was outed for his negative contribution to the American Public, a new effort should be made to target Feinstein and get her kicked out of office.

  9. Net Neutrality Safe? Maybe Not... by Dreadneck · · Score: 4, Informative

    (beginning on page 664 and continuing to page 665 of the stimulus bill)

    SEC. 6003. NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN.

    (a) REPORT REQUIRED.- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Federal Communications Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report containing a national broadband plan.

    b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.-The national broadband 23 plan required by this section shall seek to ensure that all 24 people of the United States have access to broadband capability and shall establish benchmarks for meeting that goal. The plan shall also include-

    (1) an analysis of the most effective and efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access by all people of the United States;

    (2) a detailed strategy for achieving affordability of such service and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and service by the public; and

    (3) a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes.

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    It seems to me that part (3) is broadly and vaguely worded, but given the terminology used it seems they are going to delay the attempt at killing network neutrality and possibly try to bring in through the backdoor by way of the NTIA and FCC.

    Why bother with the public scrutiny of the legislative process when you can accomplish it by fiat via the bureaucracy?

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    Power does not corrupt - power attracts the corrupt.