Obama speaks out on Network Neutrality

by
in internet on (#2TZR)
President Barack Obama has spoken out on the topic of Net Neutrality, and
he advocates for an Internet that is free and open. That's a bold move in this political environment!

It would seem that the President is interested in keeping a free and open internet without sweetheart deals. Now if only the FCC listens to the President and the many other Americans who have commented on this matter. Now, what about the other big, Internet-heavy nations that enjoy the benefits of being connected. Who will be the next to speak up? And does Obama's opinion mean the debate will swing in the direction of consumer benefit, or will the corporations have their say?
Reply 11 comments

That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: 2, Insightful)

by tanuki64@pipedot.org on 2014-11-11 20:28 (#2TZS)

Really? As non-American I follow American internal politics only superficially, so I might miss something, but does he still has something to lose? IMHO one can only be bold, if there is something to lose.

Re: That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-11-11 20:51 (#2TZW)

Good point. That sentence was my addition to the submitted article, and my point was that it's hard to have hope when Congress is now in the hands of the Republicans, whose sole purpose on earth is to defeat anything Obama proposes. But maybe you're right, and I hope you are! [I also hope this story remains about tech, and steers clears of politics. I hate politics.]

Re: That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-11-11 21:19 (#2TZZ)

If you hate politics, why would you add a politically-charged statement to the article?

Re: That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-11-11 21:27 (#2V00)

Because that's the story.

Re: That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: -1, Offtopic)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-11-11 21:55 (#2V02)

How is it the story whether or not Obama has made a bold political move? I thought the story was about how the President's adding his voice to the debate might affect the FCC's decision on Net Neutrality.

Now, the whole Net Neutrality debate is certainly political in nature. However, you said you hate politics, and yet you made a political story with technical elements even MORE political. I don't get it. I would have thought someone who hated politics would have made edits in the direction of making it LESS political and more technical.

Re: That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-11-12 04:31 (#2V0C)

We don't feed trolls here, so it looks like you're going hungry here..

Re: That's a bold move in this political environment! (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-11-12 13:43 (#2V0E)

How is that trolling?

Utility (Score: 1)

by zenbi@pipedot.org on 2014-11-12 21:06 (#2TZY)

Treating Internet providers as a utility like the electric company and the water company seems enviable inevitable.

Edit: I'm going to blame auto-correct and my tiny phone screen for that typo and not on my hastiness or crappy spelling.

Re: Utility (Score: 1)

by moveonover@pipedot.org on 2014-11-11 22:04 (#2V04)

I'm not sure what you mean by "enviable" in this context, but having broadband providers treated like utilities sounds awful! How often do protected monopolies result in innovation, lower prices, or good customer service?Please see http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/10/swiss_neutrality_code/ for a good article making some interesting points.

Re: Utility (Score: 2, Informative)

by tqk@pipedot.org on 2014-11-13 17:13 (#2V21)

"How often do protected monopolies result in innovation, lower prices, or good customer service?"

It's certainly not working so far. You do realize that most of North America is currently "served" by essentially protected monopolies and duopolies, yes? It's hardly a free market. The telcos have bought politicians who write laws in their favour, they've divvied up the market between each other and only barely (if at all) bother to compete. Europeans get far better at a much lower price, and they have real competition between providers.

Google's shown them what's not only possible but what's achievable with their Gb fibre experiments. Only then do the telcos feel threatened enough to say they'll match it.

It's a "regulatory captured" market. The head of the agency that's supposed police the industry to protect consumers is a former telco lobbyist.

Re: Utility (Score: 1)

by moveonover@pipedot.org on 2014-11-13 18:01 (#2V22)

My point exactly. Monopolies are never good for consumers. (Except maybe AT&T in the early decades. But even in that case, who knows what would have happened with multiple competitors? Very possibly faster, but likely more chaotic, innovation.)