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I know this isn't a popular opinion, but I think we need to reconsider accepting precedent that we're OK with the US government regulating the Internet (without
by anExcitedBeast 13y ago
I know this isn't a popular opinion, but I think we need to reconsider accepting precedent that we're OK with the US government regulating the Internet (without legislation, no less). With the concern about surveillance, copyright abuse, DMCA/Computer Fraud and Abuse Act abuse, and content regulation (in the case of the UK and China), is this really the solution we're looking for? Neutrality is a real problem, but this seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
- AaronFriel 13y agoThe US Government has regulated telecommunications for nigh a century now. AT&T had cleverly figured out that the right way to avoid scrutiny for their monopoly was initially to provide a very good service and start a two-way relationship with the government. I'll clarify two things here. First: this actually had a net-positive effect on telephone communications in the US. Regulators were initially more informed, and Vail was able to grow AT&T by making legitimate concessions and demonstrating universal access and service. Second, we know in hindsight that this was also the start of a practice of regulatory capture, but regardless, that the history of regulating telecommunications has often-times been beneficial even when the regulators were biased.