Minneapolis FCC Hearing Today; Google & Verizon Plan Would End Free, Public Internet as We Now Know It

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 04:24

[Tonight the FCC is holding a hearing at South High School, 3131 19th Ave S, in Minneapolis at 6PM, about federal communications policy and Net Neutrality. TC Indymedia depends on Net Neutrality to bring you your community news. Two FCC Commissioners, US Senator Al Franken and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will speak. Watch live video stream, More event info. Post below from the open publishing newswire]

Google & Verizon Plan Would End Free, Public Internet as We Now Know It
Interview with Craig Aaron, managing director of Free Press, conducted by Scott Harris

After years of debate between giant telecommunication companies and public advocates on the need to protect free, public access to the Internet -- qualities which make this communications platform such a hot house for innovation and vibrant democratic discourse -- the issue seems to be coming to a head. While the Federal Communications Commission dithered in taking steps to safeguard an open Internet, often referred to as Net Neutrality, Google and Verizon were in negotiations to develop their own vision of how the Internet will function in the future.

In an Aug. 9 announcement, Google and Verizon put forward a joint policy proposal that envisions two "Internets," one public and one private. The private Internet would provide a fast lane to content for those who could afford it, with lots of bells and whistles if you pay to play. Everyone else would be relegated to a slower and lower quality of service on the wired public Internet. The Google-Verizon proposal would eliminate the concept of Net Neutrality on wireless networks, the destination most observers believe the Internet as a whole is rapidly moving toward, and at the same time weaken the FCC's ability to effectively regulate the Internet.

The media reform group Free Press has for years been actively engaged in the fight for Net Neutrality. Free Press -- along with other national organizations in a Save the Internet Coalition -- is urging President Obama, Congress and FCC to reject the Google-Verizon proposal and instead pass strong Net Neutrality protections. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Craig Aaron, managing director of Free Press, who examines the Google-Verizon proposal, and who describes the campaign now underway to defend a free and open Internet.

Contact Free Press toll-free at (877) 888-1533 (877) 888-1533 or visit www.savetheinternet.com

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org
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Comments

Submitted by Ann on Fri, 08/20/2010 - 06:03.

I spoke at this event last night. I was #64 and there were many after me.

There were over 700 people there last. Minnesota is full of activists, and agencies who advocate for those who will loss internet under this deal. It is the homeless, the elderly, the students, the disabled who have limited income and will be isolated.

But many areas don't have such activists.

I come from Fresno, Ca. that has a newspaper that fails to factcheck.. that censors the real news. The local news does the same.
and of course the only radio station is HATE radio, KMJ.

So in places like Fresno.. it is so important to have Net Neutrality and there are many places like Fresno.

Please sign the above petition/email and put in why net neutrality is important to you.

https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&i...



I will say.. I left at 9:30pm last night and the two FCC commissioners will still listening to the public, that is more than what Senators will do. The two commissioners there, were the ones fighting for Net Neutrality.. it is the others who want to give the internet to the corporations.

Submitted by Told you so on Fri, 08/20/2010 - 10:16.

The Internet was the result of a class based society.  The Department of Defense was instrumental in it's realization.

It has been, and will continue to be, a replicator of class realities here in the United States and elsewhere.

It's great danger has been that it has, more than the moon shot itself, given the illusion to those who are disenfranchized and struggling that somehow, if they can just get enough face book friends, or twitter just the right message to Tehran at just the right moment, that the www will tip it over.

The internet has always been a tool of the privileged, the activists, the non-profit/n.g.o.  industrial complex, on a global scale.

Not to say that struggles haven't figured out how to use it, esp. Zapatistas, Orange Revolution, Oromo resistance to Amharic and Tigranian hegemony in Ethiopia, Gaza resistance to name just a few....

but at the end of the day, when the sheep dog and the coyote clock out, it is what it is...and the internet has never, ever been our friend.

It's always a good thing to wake up from a bad dream and realize that nothing, nothing, nothing, can replace getting to know and organize with your neighbors, block by block, face to motherfucking face.

Submitted by Matthew on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 05:26.
The problem here is that keeping the Internet balanced, so to speak, is not all the government would put in the bill. They would find ways to regulate it. For this reason we need the government to stay out of it other than preventing one or two companies from completely taking it over.