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The FCC Is Still Tweaking Its Net Neutrality Repeal (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: You may think, from the pomp accompanying the FCC's vote in December to repeal the 2015 net neutrality rules, that the deed was accomplished. Not so -- in fact, the order hasn't even reached its final form: the Commission is still working on it. But while it may be frustrating, this is business as usual for regulations like this, and concerned advocates should conserve their outrage for when it's really needed. The "Restoring Internet Freedom" rule voted on last month was based on a final draft circulated several weeks before the meeting at which it would be adopted. But as reports at the time noted, significant edits (i.e. not fixing typos) were still going into the draft the day before the FCC voted. Additional citations, changes in wording and more serious adjustments may be underway. It may sound like some serious shenanigans are being pulled, but this is how the sausage was always made, and it's actually one of Chairman Ajit Pai's handful of commendable efforts that the process is, in some ways at least, more open to the public. The question of exactly what is being changed, however, we will have ample time to investigate: The rules will soon be entered into the federal register, at which point they both come into effect and come under intense scrutiny and legal opposition.
it's actually one of Chairman Ajit Pai's handful of commendable efforts that the process is, in some ways at least, more open to the public
It may have been open to the public, but there were massive numbers of fake responses posted condemning the hackjob "net neutrality" regulation. All this implementation did was create an opportunity to skew the perception of what the public wanted through a misinformation campaign. We still need real net neutrality in law, not a regulation that three people can overturn.
Concerned advocates should conserve their outrage for when it's really needed.
So... don't contact your congressional representatives now when your voice might stand out and be heard? Wait until the last minute flood so that your comments can be drowned out more easily by the anti-neutrality bot spam?
I'm sure that'll work well for everyone.
It's visible to the public, not "open". If it were open, we'd have some say in it (which means it wouldn't be happening.)
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Like we waited for the tax cut bill to see what was in it? No, my friend, that will no longer work for us.
Doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks. Status quo for legislation is to make last minute revisions to major bills substantially changing them. Trump's doing it. Obama did. Dubya did it. They all do it. It happens regardless of what party is in control of Congress. Business as usual. Get over it.
We'll make great pets
Plus, he and his defenders constantly argue that ISP's won't do any of the bad things that they will now be allowed to do - because 'the market' will prevent it. Well, if that's the case, then why change the regulations that prevent it?
If there's something specific that they're willing to admit to wanting to do, present it to the FCC for approval. 'Trust us' is hardly a way to make policy - especially when you seem to be justifying the change by arguing that the status quo is just fine...
Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
I would be fine with the regulation staying in place until a law replaced it.
You have a 6" water pipe in your basement. It cracks. Water spews forth. It's a high priority thing to get fixed. You buy some of this FlexWrap tape, wrap the pipe, and the water leak stops. This is a temporary fix, but now that it is in place the priority of the real fix drops a couple of notches as you start dealing with other issues.
That's what the FCC regulations are. They're a temporary fix that removes the impetus to have a long-term real solution.
Look no further than continuing resolutions for another perfect example. The congress could do its job and pass a budget, or it could procrastinate by passing a CR and then the problem isn't as high a priority anymore. Woops, CR is running out? Pass another.
Sometimes removing the crutches is the better course of action, since it forces a solution to be found.