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You could make the valid argument that no matter how beneficial net neutrality may be it isn't within the regulatory authority of the FCC to define or enforce s
by austincheney 9y ago
You could make the valid argument that no matter how beneficial net neutrality may be it isn't within the regulatory authority of the FCC to define or enforce such according to the agency's definition per their charter. This is perhaps the best argument for killing net neutrality.
The common consideration is that killing net neutrality poses a direct and immediate harm to consumers of potential discriminatory practices from a small industry of commercial entities operating in a capacity similar to utility providers. That said it would fall squarely within the regulatory confines of the FTC.
I think something like net neutrality is important and necessary, but I also think there is something more immediately important. I want the FTC to regulate the online advertising industry. I am tired of slow websites even though I get 900mbps up and down at my house. I am also tired of the excessive spyware and occasional malware that comes from online ads. Online advertising really is most horrid part of any online experience.
- mc32 9y agoThanks. I definitely agree that ad bloat is getting out of hand and users would benefit from leaner pages. For now gone are the days Google thought load times longer than 600ms were a no go in germs of user experience --that legacy is definitely gone in Google Mail.
- inetknght 9y agohttps://www.fcc.gov/about/overview https://www.fcc.gov/about/overview > The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations. I am real curious why people think that the Internet, which is a communication medium, is not within the regulatory authority of the FCC.
- austincheney 9y ago> I am real curious why people think that the Internet, which is a communication medium, is not within the regulatory authority of the FCC. Despite the name the FCC does not regulate communications. The FCC regulates spectrum and interstate commerce thereof. Despite the definition on the FCC.gov site and the Wikipedia page the FCC cannot regulate cable even if they wanted to as mentioned by both Pai and Wheeler.
- inetknght 9y agoI'd like to know more about the decisions that led to this then. It seems to me like that's exactly what the FCC is supposed to be regulating.
- austincheney 9y agoThen you would be wrong. The FCC was created to regulate and license access to the RF spectrum, because radio frequencies are a natural finite resource.
- inetknght 9y agoBits sent across a wire use radio frequency transmission to do it. Bits processed in a routing system are a natural finite resource.
- austincheney 9y ago> Bits sent across a wire use radio frequency transmission to do it. No, they are either electrons pushed across metal with voltage or light bouncing around fiber. This is absolutely not part of the RF spectrum.
- inetknght 9y agoThey are pushed across at a specific frequency. Regardless, it is still communication. It's very clearly the domain of the Federal Communication Commission. If not, then the FCC is simply named wrong. Then whose domain does it belong a part of? FTC has clearly rejected the ability to solve neutrality issues.
- inetknght 9y agoFTC regulating the advertising industry is not mutually exclusive of the FCC enforcing Net Neutrality.