Federal Communications Commission Adopts Rules For Government Internet Regulation-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
Various warnings circulated on the Internet of a government take over of the World Wide Web. Some warnings include links to online petitions to stop Internet regulation.
The Truth:
Over the December 19, 2010 weekend several political watch dog organizations sent out warnings of what they said was Obama’s take over of the Internet.
They were reacting to several years of controversy among the commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over an issue that became known as “Net Neutrality.” Proponents of Net Neutrality argue that it would correct certain problems in the way the Internet operates and allow greater freedom from control of large Internet companies. Critics say it would result in higher costs, less freedom, and, in the case of one of the commissioners, Meredith Atwell Baker, there is the question of whether the FCC even has the authority to regulate the Internet.
The FCC approved the new rules by a 3-2 vote. It gives the federal government the authority to regulate Internet traffic but it is uncertain as to how much or how long the regulations will extend. The full rules have yet to be released. An FCC statement said it “…acted to preserve the Internet as an open network enabling consumer choice, freedom of expression, user control, competition and the freedom to innovate. Click for FCC statement.
The rules are expected to begin early in 2011 but will face challenges both in the courts and in congress. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) has called the FCC’s action ‘flawed’ and that members of congress will have an opportunity to try to change it.
The new rules will permit communication companies to charge extra for priority mobile delivery services such as for video streaming.
update 12/21/2010
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
Grassfire Nation Update: Merry Christmas: Obama to seize Internet
On Monday afternoon, Grassfire Nation representatives will march into the offices of the Federal Communications Commission and deluge them with tens of thousands of petitions and letters opposing their Internet takeover scheme.
Only a massive citizen uprising can short-circuit this latest statist grab by the Obama administration and we are counting on you to help punctuate our actions in two very important ways:
First: Take a moment to add your name to our petition opposing this takeover of the greatest example of the free marketplace perhaps in our history!
Click here to sign: http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?u=35852&RID=21772675
We cannot simply roll over and play dead as Obama takes more in the name of the federal government. As freedom–
loving Americans we are compelled to stand up and say “NO MORE!”
Anything less — especially now signals surrender!
After signing, immediately alert 30-40 friends and family — most of whom probably regularly use the Internet. Let them know that they will be adversely impacted by this federal takeover. Urge them to click below to sign our petition and ensure that they are included in our Monday afternoon’s delivery.
Have them click here now to sign: http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?u=35852&RID=21772675
Don’t delay. We have a hard deadline of 9 am ET Monday morning to gather and print all petitions and letters for a Monday afternoon delivery!
As we’ve said before, if the FCC succeeds in this case it would deal a frightening blow to our Free Speech rights — giving the federal government the authority to regulate, ration and control what you see and hear on the Internet!
We cannot let this happen. Take action by clicking here now:
Thank you for standing with Grassfire Nation.
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United States Justice Foundation Obama’s Christmas Surprise:
Fellow American Patriot,
Barack Obama has a “Christmas surprise” for the American people. It’s based upon the FCC’s self-imposed December 21 deadline to implement new Internet rules.
Via the FCC, Mr. Obama wants to take control of the Internet—YOUR Internet—your ability to contact your friends, your relatives, and your elected representatives in government.
This “stealth” use of new rules and regulations will sneak up on us just before Christmas. Quite frankly, not too many people know about this; or really take the notion seriously, because, after all, we have the 1st Amendment to the U. S. Constitution to protect us. Right? Wrong!
Obama’s FCC is ready to steal our Internet freedom by simply declaring it has the “right” to regulate it. Here’s the underlying problem for Barack Obama. Internet journalists tend to report the news without coloring it with the brush of “political correctness.” They challenge the lies that the Obama Administration puts out that the so-called “mainstream media” simply accept and repeat as the truth. We must be prepared to do battle with the intrusive FCC federal regulations
that will clamp down on our 1st Amendment rights via the Internet. To protect our free speech rights on the Internet, we must fax every single Member of Congress and let them know they must NOT agree to the upcoming December 21st regulations! Will you do that for yourself and for the rest of us… today—please? This is so important; let me repeat my request so you understand the extreme urgency. Because, historically, when government seizes liberty, it’s gone forever.
Mr. Obama will use the FCC plans to implement control of cyberspace by issuing regulations. He blatantly insists that he has the right to regulate the Internet through the FCC—which regulates the other electronic mediums: radio and television.
What Mr. Obama really means is that as long as the American people have unfettered access to the Internet, he cannot continue to spread his propaganda and bald face lies without being challenged, and he will be a one-term visitor at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Freedom and openness should continue to be the governing principles of the Internet. That’s why Mr. Genachowski’s December 21 proposals should be STOPPED by Members of Congress. In fact, both the U. S. Senate and the House
of Representatives should make it even clearer that the FCC should STOP trying to expand its REGULATORY EMPIRE and should STOP trying to control our freedom of speech over the internet!
In the administration’s zeal to “protect the people,” the social progressive zealots in the Obama federal bureaucracy are not averse to writing the rules and regulations like this. It makes a clear statement. It takes away our freedoms on the Internet; but it is all under the claim of “protection.”
That’s why the proposed FCC Internet rules and regulations—THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE IMPLEMENTED without Congressional legislation being enacted—must be stopped by that Body whose legislative authority has been abridged.
When it comes to the Internet, bipartisan majorities in Congress have insisted on maintaining a strict hands-off policy whenever the left has proposed legislation to impose censorship through regulation. A federal appeals court confirmed this in April, by striking down the FCC’s last attempt to do it. In order for the FCC to take this control, it needs Congress to give it explicit statutory authority to do so. Since they have chosen not to, Mr. Obama intends to just do it himself. The Obama Administration is overstepping its Constitutional boundaries? These proposed regulations prove that!
slow the “web experience” for everyone sharing the same information superhighway lines.
Although the federal judiciary has extended First Amendment protection to the Internet, Barack Obama believes that he has the executive authority, WITHOUT legislation enacted by Congress, to arbitrarily regulate who uses cyberspace and what access they may enjoy, based entirely on the content of the material that they wish to publish there. If this isn’t a violation of our basic rights as Americans, I do not know what is!
Gary G. Kreep, Esq.
Executive Director
United States Justice Foundation
Dept Code 5187
932 D Street Suite 1
Ramona, CA 92065