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FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Criticizes Companies That Oppose His Efforts To Repeal Net Neutrality Rules (recode.net)

Tony Romm, writing for Recode: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai thinks everyone from Cher to Twitter has it wrong when they say that his efforts to roll back the U.S. government's existing net neutrality rules will spell the death of the web. Instead, Pai said during an event in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that tech giants could pose the greatest threat by discriminating against viewpoints on the internet. "They might cloak their advocacy in the public interest," he said, "but the real interest of these internet giants is in using the regulatory process to cement their dominance in the internet economy." The surprising rebuke came as Pai forged ahead with his plan to end the net neutrality protections adopted by the Federal Communications Commission under former President Barack Obama. Those rules subject broadband providers like AT&T, Charter, Comcast and Verizon to utility-style regulation, all in a bid to stop them from blocking access to web pages, slowing down connections or prioritizing some content over others. [...] He didn't spare tech companies from that criticism, either. Companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter -- speaking through their main Washington, D.C.-based trade group, the Internet Association -- have urged Pai to stand down. In response, Pai sought to make an example of Twitter. He specifically raised the fact that the company at one point prevented a Republican congresswoman from promoting a tweet about abortion, only to change its mind amid a public backlash. "Now look: I love Twitter," Pai began. "But let's not kid ourselves; when it comes to a free and open Internet, Twitter is a part of the problem. The company has a viewpoint and uses that viewpoint to discriminate."

5 of 349 comments (clear)

  1. By definition. by Walter+White · · Score: 4, Informative

    Ajit Pai is a tool.

  2. Re:He's confusing free speech with Net Neutrality by EndlessNameless · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hell a firewall breaks net neutrality's basic tenant.

    No, it doesn't. It's almost like you don't understand the principles at all.

    Net neutrality deals with ISPs and other public network operators. It has no bearing on how you secure your own network boundary.

    Our work blocks all sorts of IP addresses from unsavory countries. That is a violation of Net Neutrality.

    Wrong. Net neutrality says that internet providers may not censor or discriminate. Endpoints, aka private companies and private customers, can filter whatever they want.

    The problem started with government, removing that problem solves net neutrality at the source

    This is a very naive viewpoint. Utilities need right of way to run their lines to each residence throughout the city. You can't have everyone digging everywhere or putting up poles wherever they feel like it. Likewise, you cannot have one homeowner blocking internet access to half the city.

    There need to be reasonable rules. The ISP/power/water/waste lines need to be built and maintained---while minimizing disruption to private property owners and commuters. The the government must be involved at this level; there is simply no way around it.

    With net neutrality, the FCC could guarantee an open internet regardless of how much competition is permitted at the state/municipal level. It protects the internet as a whole. That's the most important thing the federal government can do.

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    According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
  3. Re:Wrong. by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Informative

    The main problem with net neutrality is everyone has their own definition. Wu's is just one.

    This is what the alt-right and "fake news" would want you to believe. "Nothing has meaning, so any bad thing we do can be framed as good. The truth cannot be known, so just believe Trump."

    In fact, there are clear and concise definitions of Net Neutrality to be had. Found this easily.

    https://www.eff.org/issues/net...

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    You are welcome on my lawn.
  4. Re:He's confusing free speech with Net Neutrality by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hell a firewall breaks net neutrality's basic tenant.

    Excuse me, dumbshit. Your firewall is not selling you bandwidth.

    I bet if you think long and hard on the difference between an ISP and a firewall, you will figure it out.

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    You are welcome on my lawn.
  5. Re:Cheating the rules by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    You fail to mention that up until 2003, cable was Title II. DSL was changed in 2005 after a court ruled the FCC had the authority to make the transition on cable. The 2015 order was returning things to the way they were before since the ISPs had proven they could not be trusted to uphold net-neutrality voluntarily.