The Whole Delivery

Photo from AP Something that went largely under the radar yesterday was the fall of Henry Waxman's Net Neutrality proposal. It was a bill that was about to mirror Google and Verizon's shady deal , causing alarm to open-Internet advocates throughout. Ironically enough, big business (the telecoms this time) was denied a satisfying early victory in this battle by a Republican of all things. Mr. "Sorry BP" Republican of all things : This legislative initiative was predicated on going forward only if we had full bipartisan support in our Committee. We included the Republican staff in our deliberations and made clear that we were prepared to introduce our compromise legislation if we received the backing of Ranking Member Barton and Ranking Member Stearns. With great regret, I must report that Ranking Member Barton has informed me that support for this legislation will not be forthcoming at this time. This development is a loss for consumers and a gain only for th...

Loving what Google and their growing bitter rivals Verizon conjured up last week in their secret little deal, those folks at AT&T have decided to chime in their two cents of making sure telecom power remains another example of corporate domination in America. It is definitely the opposite of what Al Franken thinks . Policymakers can help by reallocating more spectrum for CMRS use and, even more importantly, by protecting wireless broadband networks from onerous new net neutrality regulations. The latter is vital to the continued growth of the industry. In order to provide consumers with the high quality wireless broadband services that they demand, wireless carriers must to be able to dynamically manage traffic and operate their networks in an environment free from burdensome, arbitrary and unnecessary regulations. Oh wonderful, another example of corporations hating regulations in your full peripheral. Does their excuse words of "provide the consumer with the high qu...

Oy : On Sunday, the Washington Post reported that the Obama Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to abandon it pledge to protect Net Neutrality, and ensure universal, affordable broadband. The story cites anonymous insiders confirming that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is "leaning toward" siding with the most powerful phone and cable lobbyists on a crucial decision: whether the FCC will have any authority to protect an open Internet and make it available to all. It is a testament to industry's overwhelming influence that they seem to have convinced the nation's communications agency to swear off authority to protect Americans' right to open communications. But it is stunning that Chairman Genachowski would even contemplate allowing it to stand, given President Obama's repeated pledge to ensure fast, affordable, universal Internet broadband for every American. If this turns out to be the case, then it's another painful moment of letting ...