Net Neutrality Advocates In Charge Of Obama Team Review of FCC

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Wired

The Obama-Biden transition team on Friday named two long-time net neutrality advocates to head up its Federal Communications Commission Review team. Werbach_kevin Crawford_4

Susan Crawford, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, and Kevin Werbach, a former FCC staffer, organizer of the annual tech conference Supernova, and a Wharton professor, will lead the Obama-Biden transition team's review of the FCC.

Both are highly-regarded outside-the-Beltway experts in telecom policy, and they've both been pretty harsh critics of the Bush administration's telecom policies in the past year.

Their jobs will be to review the agency and arm the president, vice president and prospective agency leader with all the information needed to make key decisions as they prepare to take over.

The choice of the duo strongly signals an entirely different approach to the incumbent-friendly telecom policymaking that's characterized most of the past eight-years at the FCC.

Read more: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/11/net-neutrality.html

[Eryemil]

1. This is a very important issue for a lot of young people.

Good move.

[druidity33]

2. old and young alike

will be affected by how the internet serves the populace.

This is a good sign.

:)


K&R

[Mabus]

5. Yep, it affects everyone

and as such is an important issue for all. As an old boomer Dem I'm pretty multi-dimensional. There are a number of issues I see as important.

I guess some of the younger generation see us as pretty clueless. :shrug:

[Skittles]

44. that gets pretty freaking old doesn't it, Mabus?

they act the internet is only for young folk

[Mabus]

57. It really does

and we all thought the 80's "me" decade mentality had died out.

Speaking of the 80's, I guess those crack babies we were warned about are alive and well. I mean, these kids have got to be smoking something. ;)

[bvar22]

10. This is a CRITICAL issue for the survival of our democracy.

:patriot:

[Tommy_J]

14. You are so right!

[annabanana]

34. . . .and that is NO overstatement!

The internet is the new "public square", and unfettered conversation and transmission of information is the only think that has kept us from going completely over the cliff and ..bombing Iran, for one thing...

[LiberalPersona]

36. so true

Since the internet has become the central source of information in the world, if companies had too much control over it, they'd effectively control the world.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

55. absolutely!! ......

We've got SO much evidence of the results of unregulated privatization, and it ain't good.

[Grateful for Hope]

15. This is good news for ALL. n/t

[PolyD]

31. 'Young People'

I'm 50. I count myself among the young then. It's important to me too. Thanks for the lift.

[kleec]

47. Oh Yeah

This waaaay over 50 appreciates this announcement! I spend loads of time getting news and other pertinent info online and I will appreciate that fact that it stays out of the power mongers total control. I am truly looking forward to the presidency of Obama.

:bounce:

[Eryemil]

50. You all do realize that personal experience doesn't count for much

in terms of evidence right? I am not saying that ALL older people do not care about the internet but all you have to do is survey what the older generations actually DO on the internet to realize that DUers might be a biased subject pool.

[Edweird]

3. Good news. Glad to hear it.

[Lugnut]

4. Excellent!

So far, so good. I'm really feeling good about this transition.

[Auggie]

7. Same here.

[cliffordu]

6. man, this just keeps getting better and better......

[Cybergata]

8. I'm lovin' Obama . . .

As if I didn't already love him, but this is a very good sign & a great start.

[Overseas]

9. K&R for very good news !!

I am also liking what I hear.

And even incorporating more conservative voices on a team doesn't mean capitulation. It may just mean you know you can justify progressive legislation on economic and very rational terms and are confident you can bring the conservatives along if they will open their minds.

Net neutrality is important to our country's founding principles.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Regarding this paragraph,

I believe it was done for political reasons, as a rear guard action to maintain the established power structures. I also believe if the neocons had their way, we would all be using telegraph, as this would make it easier to divide and conquer the American People and that's the only way they know how to rule; not govern mind you, but rule.

It was a purposeful dumbing down of the American People for strategic reasons by the conservative corporatists and people of all ages should be alarmed by this betrayal of the American People's best interests.

"I think it's magical thinking to imagine that we're somehow doing fine here, and I just want to make sure that we recognize that even the says that between 1999 and 2006 we skipped form third to 20th place in penetration," she noted acidly at the annual Tech Policy Summit, a gathering of top officials in the world of tech policy (of which Wired.com was a participant and sponsor.)"

Thanks for the thread, DogPoundPup.

Kicked and recommended.

[caseycoon]

12. K&R Good news!

This issue is another critical one.
(There are so many!)
I'm very glad to see this!
:toast:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

13. I am loving these wise appointments!

I knew Obama would be appointing new, wise advisers....
What a RELIEF, and a thrill too, seeing it happening already!!!!!

I remember the feeling of nausea at every shrub croney whose affiliations were directly opposed to the agency they were appointed to lead.

I say again-- What A Relief! :)

[aquart]

32. Yes. Each time I feel the relief wash over me.

Like I was holding my breath again, and now I can exhale.

[proud patriot]

16. Awesome

:headbang:

[prostock69]

17. I am completely ignorant of what this means for us

can someone explain it to me? Thanks.

[That Is Quite Enough]

18. Net Neutrality is a concept which means that...

The internet should be free of restrictions or censorship of any kind by the internet providers. This also means, to a lesser degree, that providers shouldn't purposely slow down or mess with the connection to any online material they don't like.

If you want to learn more about it you should visit http://www.savetheinternet.com

Save the Internet is a campaign to preserve net neutrality, and they contain a lot of important information about it and how you can join their cause.

[ohio2007]

20. kinda like the deal Bill Gates set up for China

The more the US government gets involved in the internet.........
the more people better watch out for restrictions,censorship and 'watchdog' committees.

[backscatter712]

29. Net Neutrality policy keeps the corporations from bowdlerizing the Internet.

If we allowed the Bushies and the corporate media to have their way, in a few years, we'd have this...

[ohio2007]

39. Obama Wants Applicants' Web-Posting Past

(CNET) If you want a job in an Obama administration, be prepared to disclose every blog post or comment you've ever written.

A nine-page questionnaire requires applicants to list -- and if possible, provide copies of -- all "posts or comments on blogs or other Web sites" they have ever made. Also required are "aliases" or nicknames used on those sites.

Translated into English, this means that President-elect Obama wants to know far more about you than his predecessors did. That requirement would force applicants to disclose information about Facebook and MySpace pages, profiles posted on dating Web sites, and even what was posted on Web sites like CNET and YouTube that allow readers to append comments.

Note that question doesn't only ask for potentially embarrassing or incendiary posts. It wants a list of "each" one.

snip


Perhaps this won't be a problem for older Democrats vying for senior positions like treasury secretary or attorney general. But for today's Facebook-and-YouTube generation, requesting a list (and, "if readily available," a copy) of all Web site posts and comments the applicant ever made is not a trivial task to complete -- and means that the Obama administration may not be quite as tech-savvy as its reputation would indicate.

snip
Pasthttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/14/tech/cnettechnews/main4604813.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_4604813


the new boss is watching you but
only if you want to work for him.

Net Neutrality policy keeps the corporations from bowdlerizing the Internet.
Posted by backscatter712

[HPD]

48. Yes but it may imply

Obama is open to people who are outside the Washington DC insiders club. Previous administrations used people they knew well, those who already were on the inside. If Obama is looking outside for brilliant people to get involved, and he/we don't know anything about them, then naturally they may want to get as much info as possible to save themselves from any skeletons in the closet.

I doubt they expect people to list everything. But it can't hurt to ask.

[happychatter]

53. omg I need to rescind my application

insert punchline here

mine was way too raunchy

[prostock69]

23. Oh, ok. Thanks!

:thumbsup:

[bjobotts]

38. Good answer and thanks for the link ss. It's the place to go for info on this.

[Metta]

19. Mazel freaking tov. This is good stuff.

nt

[Plaid Adder]

21. At last, appointment news that DU can find no way to bitch about!

I know, I shouldn't tempt fate,

The Plaid Adder

[Piewhacket]

22. Thank you Barack. The (blankity blank) repuke FCC chair needs to be tried ...

For public corruption, racketeering.
And hung ( should the laws permit).

We must start somewhere, Chairman Martin,
why not with you.

[BrklynLiberal]

24. This is excellent news. Thanks for the post.

[Canuckistanian]

25. Thank FSM!

Man, it was looking pretty bleak for a while there.

The main problem as I saw it was sheer IGNORANCE of the subject from lawmakers. They just didn't understand the concept or the importance of net neutrality.

Hopefully, Obama will put someone in the FCC who puts the PEOPLE'S interests ahead of Big Telecom.

[ms liberty]

26. Great news. Now if he'd make Bob McChesney head of the FCC...

and put Bill Moyers in as the head of CPB...I'd be speechless with joy.

K&R

[poetsdream]

27. This is Good News

I'm already liking the Obama teams 'can do' attitude!

[backscatter712]

28. EXCELLENT! Net neutrality is what prevents the corporations from making our internet look like...

[BlancheSplanchnik]

56. woa, that's scary!

geez, my stomach actually lurched when I saw this--- too true to be funny!!!
ugh!

where did you get this? It's perfect!

[ColbertWatcher]

30. How sweet it is! n/t

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Hekate]

35. Dawn is breaking in America. God, I love Obama. nt

[bitchkitty]

37. THANK GOD!

Net neutrality can do more to preserve our freedom than I don't know what. If it weren't for the Internet, many would not know the truth about any of the issues of today.

[CADEMOCRAT7]

40. This is a very healthy sign, Universal Broadband pleasssse ! n/t

[Daphne08]

41. Very good.

[Realityhack]

42. W00t! n/t

[MH1]

43. "strongly signals an entirely different approach" - ya think? (-g-)

This is great news but not at all surprising. Obama earned the early support of Lawrence Lessig, one endorsement that spoke volumes about what Obama's technology policy tendencies would be.

[Odin2005]

45. Hell yeah! n/t

[happygoluckytoyou]

46. OBAMA! the man has the same opportunity to be a great president that bush did... ONLY SMARTER !

[mopinko]

49. see what happens when you take your country back? np

[jeff30997]

51. Yes ! Net Neutrality.

This will not only affect the U.S but most of the rest of the world as well.Recommended.

[Seldona]

52. Great news for all.

What would that have done to e-commerce? Scary.

[geekgrrl]

54. This is GREAT news-- it just keeps getting better!! nt

[YvonneCa]

58. Al Gore discusses this in his book...

...Assault on Reason. He makes the case that freedom of the internet is crucial to the survival of our democracy.

[JimDandy]

59. Finally - someone's going to correct the wiring!!

Many of our constitutional rights can be greatly affected by how the FCC rules. It really bothers me that the safeguarding of these rights hinges on who we have for a president. We need to develop a more robust way to protect our communication rights - one that isn't subject to the whims of a Presidential administration. In the meantime, I'm f****** glad Obama is in to get the FCC back on track.