Rep. Blackburn Introduces Bill to Preempt FCC Internet Takeover

January 6, 2011 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Business, Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Media, Net Neutrality, President, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative Marsha Blackburn (R, TN) has introduced a bill to preempt the December power grab by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and she has made the bill bipartisan with the support of Democrat Dan Boren (Oklahoma).

Blackburn’s bill would place all rules governing the Internet in the purview of Congress and would take the issue out of the hands of the FCC. She is reporting that 60 members support her bill to halt the FCCs efforts to take control of the Internet without legislative action.
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Headed to Washington D.C. …

January 4, 2011 | Filed Under Americans For Prosperity, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Technology, Warner Todd Huston, Washington D.C. | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

I’ll be heading to Washington D.C. for the next few days. I am going to meet with some new congressmen and attend the Americans for Prosperity Internet Freedom Forum.

I am hopeful that I’ll have some exciting posts on the next three day’s events and doings.

… Stay tuned.

Update

Made it to D.C. No idea what my day will be like tomorrow, yet.

FCC Chief Still Pushing Net Neutrality Without Congressional Action

November 19, 2010 | Filed Under Budget, Capitalism, Computers, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Elections, FCC, Free Trade, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Taxes, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

With the recent midterm election and the resulting GOP tidal wave that is about to inundate Congress, many people have wondered aloud if net neutrality was dead? Well if FCC Chief Julius Genachowski has his way, net neutrality will be implemented by fiat when he has his agency simply change rules without involving congress at all.

The results of this election doesn’t even seem to be giving FCC Chairman Genachowski the slightest pause. Reports are that he is still working on a proposal for the FCC to take over the Internet and implement net neutrality anyway.

In The Hill, Genachowski is quoted saying that he fully intends to bring these rules to fruition.
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Don’t Censor the Internet! STOP the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act

November 18, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Censorship, Copyright, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

The politicians are at it again. They never cease to amaze for their constantly revolving attempts to take over complete control of the Internet and everything connected to it. This time, in the guise of safeguarding copyrighted material, Congressional Democrats intend to introduce into this zombie session of congress the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA).

COICA would give the Attorney General the power to shut down websites accused of illegally distributing copyrighted material by requiring Internet Service Providers to block such sites from its customers.

Certainly, as a capitalist, I am solidly for protections against copyright infringement, but, as is the case with most things that government does, this bill goes that much too far and offers a threat to freedom of expression on the Internet.
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It’s the Sammies!!

November 18, 2010 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Inernet, Liberals, Sam Adams Alliance, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance is announcing its fourth annual Sammies awards…

On the heels of some of the most citizen-driven election results in decades, we’re proud to announce the contest opening for the 4th annual Sammies, our annual awards show recognizing America’s best citizen leaders.

In 2011, the Sammies will recognize their achievements with new categories, $60,000 in prizes, and the best party we have ever thrown! It all happens April 8, 2011 at Chicago’s Union Station. Get all the details here.

Nominate someone you know (or yourself) for a Sammie!

Get the latest on the Sammies, including announcements of featured speakers and nominees by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

Democrat’s Anti-Capitalist Net Neutrality Wounded, But Not Dead

November 8, 2010 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Congress, Constitution, Democracy, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Elections, FCC, Free Trade, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Inernet, Jobs, Liberals, Net Neutrality, News, President, Regulation, Republicans, Taxes, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Just before election day the liberal blogs were aflutter with news that 95 Democratic Congressional candidates had taken the pledge to support Net neutrality if they were elected. That turned out to be a very big “if.” More like a forlorn hope, if you will.

Of those 95 Democrats, the number actually going to Congress in January will be… zero. There hasn’t been a wipe-out like this since the Redskins beat the Broncos 42-10 in the 1988 Super Bowl. Or since Atlantis was swept into the sea, or something.

As far as Internet policy is concerned, last night’s lesson for Republicans should be clear: Internet “neutrality” regulation is a loser with the public. It’s also a loser with businesses. It’s even a loser with the labor unions. That’s not a surprise. Union leaders can sometimes get realistic very quickly when confronted with a federal policy that will cost their members jobs.
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Net Neutrality: Free Press Loses a Schtick Contest

October 28, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, FCC, Free Trade, Google, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Lobbyists, Net Neutrality, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Recently Comm Daily (subscription required) reported that an FCC decision on net neutrality was unlikely before its January meeting. While uninteresting in itself the one remarkable line in the story had to be this quote from a senior FCC official:

“While they are busy handing out waffles and making posters, we are focused on creating jobs and protecting consumers.”

The FCC official was referring to Free Press, the group that has been relentlessly attacking the FCC and many Democrats for not jumping off the cliff for net neutrality.

As far as can be determined, this is the first time the FCC has ever called out Free Press for its buffoonery. And it’s about time, too. This may be a sign that the FCC has realized that the far left will never stop attacking them – Free Press’s business model depends on staying to the Left of whatever the FCC does — so it’s pointless to try to make them happy.

Who is Free Press? Taking a look at its Flickr photo stream shows why nobody, Republicans or Democrats, actually take Free Press seriously.
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Net Neutrality Supporters Admit, They Want Property Rights Eliminated

October 27, 2010 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Blogging, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Congress, Copyright, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, FCC, Free Trade, Freedom, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Law, Liberals, Net Neutrality, New Media, Property Rights, Regulation, Society/Culture, Technology, Uncategorized, Warner Todd Huston, Western Civilization | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Oh, Net Neutrality sure sounds like a great idea. Why, Net Neutrality supporters only want what’s best for “the people,” right? They only want the Internet to be a playground for all, free of the influence of evil corporations, and they want fees to be reasonable for the lowly masses, right? Turns out, not so much. Fair pricing and open access is the least of what Net Neutrality supporters really care about.

The latest wrinkle in the saga of Net Neutrality pretty much proves that Net Neutrality supporters really don’t care much about a free and open Internet as formulated in most people’s minds, nor do they care if corporations offer the Internet in a “fair” manner. No, what Net Neutrality supporters want is the end of ownership of intellectual property. What they really think is that anything that appears on the Internet should be wholly free of any capitalist ends whatever. That includes anything you create, by the way. They aren’t just against those evil corporations. They are against anyone making money on the Internet. That means you too.
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As Obama Pretends at Its Freedom, His Gov’t Plans Takeover of Internet

September 30, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Computers, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Inernet, Liberals, Net Neutrality, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

In an address to the United Nations on Thursday, Sept. 23, President Obama pledged to preserve a “free and open Internet” and would call out nations that censored content.

In a veiled reference to China and other nations that censor the Internet, Obama said that a civil society fosters open government. “Civil society is the conscience of our communities, and America will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens beyond the halls of government. And we will call out those who suppress ideas and serve as a voice for those who are voiceless.”

“We will promote new tools of communication so people are empowered to connect with one another and, in repressive societies, to do so with security,” Obama said. “We will support a free and open Internet, so individuals have the information to make up their own minds. And it is time to embrace and effectively monitor norms that advance the rights of civil society and guarantee its expansion within and across borders.”

Yet even as Obama stood giving high sounding words to a “free and open Internet” and scolding other nations that have oppressive controls on Internet access for their own citizens, Barack Obama’s own government has itself been quietly making plans to take over the Internet from private companies.
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Net Neutrality Update

September 28, 2010 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Net Neutrality, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

If you are as worried as I am about the left’s effort to force ever larger amounts of big government onto our lives, then you should be looking into the issue of Net Neutrality. To that end a few times a week I’ll be posting some links and info about Net Neutrality to help you all get your feet wet on this important issue.

Here are just a few of the latest articles on Net Neutrality for your information:

Draft of Waxman’s net-neutrality legislation leaked amid talks
The Hill, by Sara Jerome

Here is a draft copy of the net-neutrality proposal under development by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (Calif.), according to an industry source. This version was under consideration as of the weekend. Two non-Hill sources said Monday afternoon they believe the bill will come on Monday or Tuesday.

Rough week marks end of FCC Chairman’s Summer in Hell
The Daily Caller, by Mike Riggs

Among the Washington power set’s favorite past-times is betting on an agency head’s exit date. After all, it’s usually a question of when — not if — he or she is going to burn out, throw up his or her hands in frustration, and get hounded out of the gig. The betting tables are especially hot after a long week for FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.
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Newest House Net Neutrality Bill Cuts FCC Out of Internet Authority

September 28, 2010 | Filed Under Blogging, Budget, Business, Computers, Congress, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, FCC, Free Trade, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Jobs, Liberals, Net Neutrality, Stimulus, Taxes, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

It looks like House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, (D-Calif) is so desperate to get a Net Neutrality bill out of the House before the recess that he was willing to strip the FCC authority from it this week. For months he Federal Communications Commission has been angling to take power over the Internet and left-wing Net Neutrality supporters were keen to let them but with the clock running down Chairman Waxman took a different path.

Tech Dose Daily reports that the bill would prohibit the FCC from reclassifying broadband under title II of the Communications Act. But there is a two-year sunset clause that would open up the FCC to reapply for this undue power at a later date.

Waxman apparently hopes to get this version of the bill passed out of committee so that the House can pass the bill before the recess. He hopes then that the Senate can tackle its part of the bill during the upcoming lame duck session.
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Live Streaming Video of Right Nation 2010

September 18, 2010 | Filed Under Blogging, Illinois, Inernet, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

Net Neutrality Update

September 16, 2010 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Computers, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, FCC, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Net Neutrality, New Media, Taxes, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here are just a few of the latest articles on Net Neutrality for your information:

Internet Engineering Task Force Says ‘AT&T Is Misleading’ on Net Neutrality
Free Press by Staff

WASHINGTON — AT&T filed a letter last week with the Federal Communications Commission claiming its plans for “paid prioritization” arrangements were supported by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the international body that develops and promotes Internet standards. In its letter, which attempted to conflate AT&T’s anti-consumer plans with accepted business-class network management practices, the company stated that paid prioritization “was fully contemplated by the IETF.”

What is Wrong With Net Neutrality?

September 15, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Computers, Dave McClure, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Google, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Net Neutrality, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

-By Dave McClure, President and CEO of the US Internet Industry Association

Net neutrality. It sounds harmless enough, right? Wrong. Net neutrality is the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) misguided and misunderstood attempt to regulate the Internet. Net neutrality has taken many chameleon-like shades in the evolution to its current state, but its inherent dangers to the future of the Internet remain. Because of a recent Washington DC District Court decision concluding the FCC did not have the authority to regulate the Internet as it exists today, the FCC has embarked on a quest to reclassify broadband Internet service as it is today and classify it under an outdated monopoly era statute know as “Title II” of the Communications Act in which the FCC does have express authority over Title II services.

The FCC is concerned that broadband service providers will discriminate against content from competitors in order to more readily provide applications that would benefit them. Despite no evidence to this end, the FCC has been successful in generating the fear that without regulation, the Internet will change for the worse. The entire idea of introducing new regulations to preserve the already free and open nature of the Internet is paradoxical. Remember the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” The Internet is certainly not broken; in fact, it may be the “least broken” sector of our economy, with service providers investing billions of dollars into network infrastructure and innovations in the face of a recessive economy.
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BlogCon 2010

September 10, 2010 | Filed Under Blogging, Freedom Works, Inernet, New Media, Technology, Warner Todd Huston, Washington D.C. | 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Pictured (left to right)= Robert Stacy McCain (The Other McCain), Joe Schoffstall (Media Research Center Employee), Cheryl Karounos Prater (PraterPost), Warner Todd Huston (PubliusForum), Stephen Green (VodkaPundit)

I am here at Blogcon 2010 at the Sheraton Crystal City in the environs of Washington D.C. The event is being sponsored by Freedom Works and spearheaded by the indefatigable Tabitha Hale.

This is the first time that I know of that some of the biggest names in center-right blogging have gotten together to mingle and meet. (With no attempt to be an extensive list and in no particular order) We have Stephen Kruiser, GatewayPundit’s Jim Hoft, Lee Doren, Mary Katherine Ham, Melissa Clouthier, John Hawkins, Matt Lewis, Jason Mattera, Steve Green, Scott Ott of Scrappleface…too many to name, really.
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Net Neutrality Update

September 3, 2010 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Business, Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, FCC, Google, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Lobbyists, Net Neutrality, Taxes, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here are just a few of the latest articles on Net Neutrality for your information:

Most Important Net Neutrality story today: F.C.C. Seeks More Input on Wireless Internet Rules, The New York Times

The FCC is requesting more comment time in order to get past the midterm elections and put their decision phase into the lame duck Congressional session. It is likely that this calculation was made in order to allow the FCC to grab control of the Internet without much resistance from a less active and less powerful Congress.

As Ed Morrissey says of this move, “Well, isn’t that … convenient? Pushing a renewed power grab until after the midterms leaves Genachowski with a lame-duck Congress that may not feel particularly motivated to reassert its own authority as it did earlier with Genachowski. It also gives Genachowski a small but valuable window in which to push through potentially radioactive policies while Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid control Capitol Hill and hope a Republican House forgets about it in their haste to undo ObamaCare and conduct investigations into White House conduct.”

Folks, we need to contact those congressmen on the Internet Subcommittee in the House of Representatives. CLICK HERE to find out what congressmen are members of this committee.

Some Other Articles of Interest:

Network Neutrality is Engaged in the California Senate Race, by Seton Motley

The Pro-Network Neutrality ‘Coalition’ is Collapsing, by Seton Motley

The Public is Learning the Truth about Net Neutrality, by Seton Motley

Net Neutrality – Casting A Wide Regulatory Net To Neuter Us All – Part I, by Van Harvey

Tech at Night: Net Neutrality DOOM, by Neil Stevens

Here are a few anti-Net Neutrality organizations and Web Resources that are worth looking in on occasionally:

StopNetRegulation.org
The Technology Liberation Front
The Progress and Freedom Foundation
-Multimedia pages with some great videos and podcasts
MediaFreedom.org
Tech at Night, Neil Stevens of RedState
Tech Daily Dose, National Journal
Tech Meme
The Hill’s Hillicon Valley Blog
Politico’s Morning Tech Blog
Scott Cleland’s Precursor Bog

Here are some industry websites that follow Internet regulations:

We hope that you will post our articles and press releases. We also hope that our emailings will interest you enough to join the fight and write a few blog posts about Net Neutrality.

At stake is no less our freedom to blog not to mention the innovation of a free market.

Feel free to drop me a line at igcolonel@hotmail.com and do let me know if you are interested in helping to get the free market, conservative narrative on Net Neutrality out to your readers. This issue is vitally important for the freedom and success of our Internet.

This effort is in association with the United States Internet Industry Association (USIIA).

The Right Needs to Wake up to Net Neutrality

September 2, 2010 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, FCC, Free Trade, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Net Neutrality, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

I am happy to announce that I am being joined in this effort by the United States Internet Industry Association (USIIA). Dave McClure, President and CEO of the USIIA, will be offering op eds for you to post on your blog or to share with others.

Mr. McClure’s first op ed for your use is titled Internet Regulation Would Take a Toll on Pennsylvania’s Economy and is posted at Anita MonCrief’s new site EmergingCorruption.com. (If you would like a Word Document of this op ed CLICK HERE)

USIIA has some useful articles and studies on the Publications Page of its website that might help you learn a bit more about Net Neutrality.
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A Guide to Political Blog Comments Posters

August 22, 2010 | Filed Under Blogging, Humor, Inernet, Technology, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

I want everyone to know that I love the comments posters on political blogs. OK, truth be known I love the ones that agree with me. The others, not so much. But I really can see the logic to those that say comments are the worst part of the Internet Tubes. 99% of the time the comments section add nothing but vitriol and pointless blather…. not to mention a dearth of grammar and spelling. While there’s the occasional really detailed and good comment that does add to the thread, the good ones are far and few between.

Heck, there’ve been many months when I’ve just shut down the comments section on my own blog due to spamming. Only recently have I turned it back on.

But whatever the propriety of a blog comments section, the sad fact is they are all the same on nearly every political blog. It’s probably just a reflection of human nature, but these comments sections are all so eerily similar as to cause one to wonder if comments sections everywhere are all written by the same few post-happy people.

This may be the same on all blogs, but it is at least true on political clogs. You tell me. Go to a political blog comments section and I’ll bet you’ll find these commenters:

The I Luv U Man

No matter what is posted as the main post, this commenter loves it and thinks it was written by the smartest person in the world. This commenter is SURE that this post is the smartest thing a human has ever written, that is until the next post comes up and then THAT post is just as brilliant.
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Bloggericide: Ohio Officials Charge Blogger With Campaign Violations

August 6, 2010 | Filed Under 1st Amendment, Blogging, Computers, Constitution, Crime, Free Speech, Freedom, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Law, New Media, Ohio, Regulation, Technology, The Law, Warner Todd Huston, Western Civilization | 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, folks, this is bound to happen more and more as time rolls onward in this New Media world of ours. A blogger is in trouble with local Ohio officials who are trying to Shut him down using a badly applied campaign finance law all because he has been critical of county officials on his blog. That’s right, a county board is trying to silence the free political speech of a local Ohio blogger because he is critical of them.

The Geauga County Board of Elections has filed charges against the owner of the Geauga Constitutional Council blog, independent blogger Ed Corsi. The Board claims that Corsi’s pseudonymously published blog violates O.R.C. 3517.20(A)(2), a code meant to assure that political campaign publications, signs, and handouts have their source transparently identified.

The reason the Board is going after Corsi is because he publishes on his blog critical assessments and lists of local officials that he calls “R.I.N.O.S.” Board officials feel that because he does not affix his name to his blog posts he is violating the transparency rules.
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Opposing ‘Net Neutrality’

August 4, 2010 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Blogging, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, FCC, Inernet, Media, Net Neutrality, Regulation, Technology, Warner Todd Huston, Washington D.C. | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

While attending RightOnLine in Las Vegas last week we had the opportunity to attend several discussions of the ill advised plans that the Obama administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has for regulating and controlling the Internet.

I listened to a panel discussion and a stand alone speech on Net Neutrality and the plans the Obama administration has for the Internet will surely stifle the creativity and new business opportunities that are opening up all in the overused name of “fairness.”

Worse, these regulations are all being pushed through without act of Congress and under the guise of the FCC’s assumed powers to affect the Internet. These powers that the FCC imagines itself to have are not codified anywhere in law, but the FCC is moving ahead despite the gray areas. Like most of what Obama does, nothing as silly as “the law” will stop them from surging forward with yet another power grab.
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Why Viacom Likely Wins Viacom-Google Copyright Appeal

July 8, 2010 | Filed Under Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, Inernet, Jobs, Net Neutrality, Scott Cleland, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

Viacom is ultimately likely to prevail in its appeal of the lower court decision in the seminal Viacom vs. Google-YouTube copyright infringement case.

If one only reads either the lower court’s decision or the press reports of it, without considering likely appellate arguments and the broader constitutional context of copyright protection, it is easy to mis-read the likely ultimate outcome here.

Both sides agreed to an expedited summary judgment process in the lower court because both sides fully expected this case to ultimately be decided at the appellate level, and most likely by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Poor Richard’s Internet

July 3, 2010 | Filed Under Ben Franklin, Computers, Founders, Inernet, John Armor, Technology | Comments Off

-By John Armor

Let us raise two questions: What would Ben Franklin think of the Internet? And, what would be his opinion of efforts by the current Administration to censor Internet content, or even shut it down in “an emergency”? Events in his life may answer those questions.

A recent two-hour TV special on Franklin made one point that deserves repetition. It was that of all the Framers who created the United States of America in law and in fact, the one who would be “most at home in the modern world” was Dr. Franklin.

There are several, sound reasons for that. Franklin was a scientist. He observed facts in the real world. He developed theories to explain those facts. Then, he developed experiments to prove whether or not his theories were correct.
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Online Society, Offline Civilization: How the Internet is Ushering in the End of the Age

July 2, 2010 | Filed Under Inernet, Net Neutrality, Selwyn Duke, Technology, Western Civilization | Comments Off

-By Selwyn Duke

When people discuss the overall effects of the Internet, they will weigh the good and the bad. On one side, they may mention how the Web, along with talk radio, has broken the stranglehold over public opinion the mainstream media once enjoyed; on the other, they may cite the pernicious effects of pornography, cyber-bullying or the loss of privacy. Whatever the analysis and verdict, though, it never truly captures how tangled a Web we have woven. This is because seldom recognized is a simple and profound fact: The Internet is one of the most powerful forces ever unleashed by mankind.

The (Mis-)Information Bomb

We have numerous sayings alluding to the power of ideas, such as “Knowledge is power,” “The pen is mightier than the sword” and “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on.” And with modern forms of communication, such as radio and television — and now the Internet — ideas can be transmitted at a rate unfathomable for most of man’s existence.
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The FCC’s ‘Blight Touch’ & ‘Muddle Ground’

June 29, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Google, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Scott Cleland, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

Clearly proponents of net neutrality and public-utility regulation of broadband, have learned how to manipulate language and metaphors to mask and move their agenda; what they haven’t learned is that the language and metaphors used to promote policy changes must be true in order to make legitimate, successful, and lasting public policy.

The communications plan for the FCC’s proposed broadband regulation of the Internet is full of fiction, fantasy and misdirection. What’s increasingly obvious is that proponents of preemptive proscriptive broadband regulation think people are stupid, that they don’t know what words mean and that they will gullibly swallow whatever is said without thought or question.
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FCC Broadband “Believe it or Not!”

June 26, 2010 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, Google, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Scott Cleland, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

With due credit to “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!®,” so much odd and bizarre is happening at the FCC in the “name” of “broadband” that the topic calls for its own collection of: “Believe it or Not!®” oddities.

The FCC insists that its Title II reclassification effort to regulate broadband networks is not “regulating the Internet,” when the law the Supreme Court and the FCC all define the Internet to include broadband networks!

The FCC, certain that the D.C. Circuit Court decision on Comcast vs. the FCC was incorrect, decided not to appeal to the Supreme Court!

The FCC, an administrative agency created, funded, and overseen by Congress, completely ignored a majority of Members of Congress who wrote the FCC opposing FCC reclassification of broadband as a common carrier!

The FCC plans to justify new broadband Title II regulation with some regulatory forbearance by arguing that the market facts simultaneously warrant both more, and less, broadband regulation — at the very same time!

The FCC claims the “soundest legal foundation” for broadband is the opposite of what the DC Circuit Court, Congress, legal experts and industry think is sound!

The FCC justified pursuing its Title II reclassification effort by characterizing it as the “broad consensus” view, but the non-partisan Association of State Legislatures and a bi-partisan majority of Members of Congress opposed the FCC in writing!

The FCC claims it has an open mind in approaching the Notice of Inquiry, but a majority of FCC votes, are on record already supporting new broadband regulation!

The FCC claims ‘immaculate mis-conception’ to explain how “series of tubes,” the FCC appears intent on officially declaring the Internet a series of telephone lines!

Strange but true.

“Believe it or Not!®”
_________________
Scott Cleland is one of nation’s foremost techcom analysts and experts at the nexus of: capital markets, public policy and techcom industry change. He is widely-respected in industry, government, media and capital markets as a forward thinker, free market proponent, and leading authority on the future of communications. Precursor LLC is an industry research and consulting firm, specializing in the techcom sector, whose mission is to help companies anticipate change for competitive advantage. Cleland is also Chairman of NetCompetition.org, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Precursor LLC and an e-forum on Net Neutrality funded by a wide range of broadband telecom, cable and wireless companies. He previously founded The Precursor Group Inc., which Institutional Investor magazine ranked as the #1 “Best Independent” research firm in communications for two years in a row. His latest op eds can be seen at www.precursorblog.com.

FCC & Google’s Extreme Internet Makeover — A Preview

June 24, 2010 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, Google, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Scott Cleland, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

At its Thursday meeting, expect the FCC to adopt Google’s PR script to try and better sell the FCC’s upcoming “Extreme Makeover” of Internet regulation.

The centerpiece of the FCC and Google’s “extreme Internet makeover” plan is the creation of an entirely new, Google-inspired, regulatory classification called “Broadband Internet Connectivity Service” or BICS.

The BICS extreme makeover is designed to enable the promotion of integrated “edge” products and services like Google Voice, Google TV and Google’s Chrome/Android operating systems and empower the FCC to implement its National Broadband Plan on its own without additional Congressional authorization or action.

Predictably, the FCC’s Google-oriented-BICS-scheme has three fatal flaws, making it a disaster waiting to happen.
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Americans want online privacy — per new Zogby poll

June 19, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Computers, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Google, Government, Government, Corruption, Inernet, Liberals, Net Neutrality, Regulation, Scott Cleland, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

American consumers clearly want online privacy, per a national poll conducted over the weekend by Zogby International, that was commissioned by Precursor LLC.

In a nutshell, over 80% of Americans are concerned about the security and privacy of their personal information on the Internet; about 90% of Americans consider some common industry behaviors to be unfair business practices; and about 80% of Americans support a variety of stronger consumer protections of their privacy online.
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Vlog: News Analysis of ‘We Con The World’ Video Controversy

June 14, 2010 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Censorship, Computers, Foreign Countries, Inernet, Islam, Israel, Jews, Judaism, Media, Media Bias, Palestinians, Religion, Warner Todd Huston, Western Civilization, YouTube | 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is my first vlog (that’s video blog for the uninitiated) using my new HD camera. I see I have to fix my lighting problem in the room I was using to record it in, but anyways… it was my first stab at it, so give me a break will ya?

This episode I look into the controversial decision of YouTube to pull the Latma parody video of “We Are The World,” which they titled “We Con The World.” The video makes fun of the Palestinian supporters in the aftermath of the IDF raid of several “aid” ships off the coast of Gaza.

In any case, I will be sure to get better at this video deal-i-o, so don’t let this first attempt dissuade you from trying my next one, won’t you?

Google’s ‘Total Information Awareness’ Power

June 12, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Google, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Scott Cleland, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

A one-page graphic of all the information Google has…

To help you picture both the enormity and unprecedented power of what Google knows about you and the world’s information—public, private and proprietary—I have organized all the world’s information types that Google collects onto a one-page chart/PDF: “Google’s ‘Total Information Awareness’ Power.”

For those who really want to understand Google and its impact on most everyone and most everything, please read and study this one-page chart/PDF, because much valuable work and insight has gone into it.

While the chart is visually packed with information that many may find difficult to unpack or digest, the chart itself is an apt metaphor for both how much information Google has, and also how difficult it is for all of us to get our head around all the information Google routinely collects and uses.

A short refresher on where the term “Total Information Awareness” came from and why it is aptly employed here.
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FCC Exceptionalism and Supremacy?

June 5, 2010 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Computers, Economy/Finances, Free Trade, Google, Inernet, Net Neutrality, Scott Cleland, Technology | Comments Off

-By Scott Cleland

Often stepping back to gain perspective, and to try and see the forest for the trees can be highly instructive. However, if one steps back to see the big picture of how this FCC is attempting, unilaterally, to change U.S. Internet policy, the view is surreal.

Increasingly, this FCC is becoming an island. It is insisting on self-asserting its exceptionalism and its supremacy over the Internet and It is ignoring an overwhelming amount of important and contrary input, advice and evidence from Congress, the Courts, DOJ, FTC, past FCCs, industry and the public.

Simply, this FCC increasingly appears to view itself as exceptional and as the supreme authority on and over the Internet, unconstrained by Congress, the courts, law, economics, markets or the public.
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