Obama to name net-neutrality proponent as head of FCC (thank God!)

[Occam Bandage]

A supporter of net neutrality principles and of making broadband affordable across the United States is expected to be nominated as the next head of the Federal Communications Commission, according to numerous reports.

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama is expected to nominate his technology adviser, Julius Genachowski, to the position, replacing outgoing chair Kevin Martin, according to the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. Genachowski, who helped craft Obama's technology policy during the U.S. presidential campaign, is a former chief counsel for the FCC and is currently a venture capitalist in Washington.

Genachowski is considered a supporter of net neutrality — the principle that the internet should be kept open and free from interference or restrictions from service providers such as throttling of download speeds or shaping traffic so some applications work faster than others. He has also been an opponent of media consolidation and an advocate of affordable broadband.

Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, a media advocacy group promoting universal access to communications, and diverse and independent media ownership, praised the potential selection.

"We share Obama's goals of creating a more diverse, democratic media system and providing fast, affordable, open internet access for everyone," he said in a statement. "We greatly look forward to working with Mr. Genachowski to put the president-elect's plan into action."

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/01/13/obama-fcc.html

This is extraordinarily important to each and every person who believes that megacorporations should not be able to control the Internet. Major kudos to Obama for this, if it pans out.

[Occam Bandage]

1. I should have entitled this "K&R if Warren thinks the feud between Hillary and Dean is whining."

[BlooInBloo]

3. Yup. Unless it's whining about how evil Obama is, it goes nowhere....

Shoulda seen the crickets when I posted Obama's recovery plan analysis. (shudders)


EDIT: The Obama-is-a-war-criminal thread is doing VERY well, however.

[EraOfResponsibility]

8. there's an obama is a war criminal thread? Oy vey

[Shiver]

20. Link to war-criminal thread?

I need a daily dose of hyperbolic unsubstantiated outrage...

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. Yes, if you don't beg for K & Rs, you're really not worth replying to...

K & R this if you've now read it!



Great OP, BTW :fistbump:

[Cha]

26. Yeah, if something

good happens it sinks but if there's a chance to rag on Obama..you better believe they come out of the woodwork to jump on.

Yo, "did you know Obama's is the most expensive Inaugural in the history of Inaugerals"?:silly:

[PVnRT]

30. I see you just can't post here without being a victim

[Occam Bandage]

31. *shrug.* This was the first mention of a major appointment, as far as I could see,

and it went fifteen minutes without a reply as ridiculous flamewars stayed on top. A gentle prod at DU's enjoyment of conflict is not self-victimization.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Very nice.

[firedupdem]

4. Excellent! He's picking some really good people in my opinion. The

internet should not be controlled in the way that it has been or will be without intervention. Good news!

[drm604]

5. This is very good news for everyone.

It's especially good for those of us who do business on the internet. Net neutrality makes it much easier for us to compete with the big guys (which is, of course, why the big guys are against it).

[Uzybone]

7. Net neutrality is a big issue for me

Kudos to our President on this pick. On the science and technology front (FCC, NASA, Dept of Energy etc), he has been making excellent picks. It bodes well for our future.

neutrality

[Political_Junkie]

9. Awesome!

K & R

[EraOfResponsibility]

10. Does this pick mean that Viacom can stop fucking with youtube?

If so, that is wonderful news.

[BlooInBloo]

11. No. Owning a car on the road is completely different from owning the road itself.

[Enthusiast]

16. We can only hope so! nt

[Zodiak]

19. Also UMG and Warner

The record companies are removing videos with even the tiniest amount of their music in the background. They have turned fair use totally on its head.

[EraOfResponsibility]

34. exactly, they're abusing the hell out of it

[Eurobabe]

12. Excellent

Maybe this guy can take a baseball bat to the big internet companies who want to charge people by the MB for downloading, etc.

[frazzled]

13. A poke in the eye to Bobby Rush

who has been shamefully on the wrong side on net neutrality.

I'm not saying that's why Obama did this at all, but it's an interesting political game to ponder: Obama gets routed by Bobby Rush in an election back in the day, Bobby Rush eventually comes down on the wrong side of net neutrality (with a lot of financial help from the telecoms), Obama eventually becomes president and vacates his Senate seat, Bobby Rush helps Rod Blagojevich to dare America to refuse his appointment of a black man with some spare space on his tombstone to the Senate, Obama appoints a pro-net neutrality FCC chair. May the circle be unbroken.

[mucifer]

18. I think Obama has noticed what changes Bill Clinton did with the media laws

and how detrimental it has been to dems and the 400 stations that play right wing talk as opposed to the 80 or so stations that play liberal talk. This is self protection for Obama.

[Occam Bandage]

29. Plus, given how deftly Obama used the internet for fundraising and viral messages,

it's in his own interest to ensure that his supporters have unrestricted access.

[cliffordu]

14. K&R.

Nice post. In spite of not calling Obama evil....

[Enthusiast]

15. Very happy to hear it! nt

[countingbluecars]

17. Sounds like a great pick. n/t

[Odin2005]

21. WOOT!

:woohoo:

[anonymous171]

22. Good. The internet is the only thing that is preventing the Corporations from taking over.

It would be wise to keep it free.

[progressoid]

23. Yay!

[glitch]

24. Agreed, major kudos. K & R thanks for posting. nt

[Occam Bandage]

25. kick.

[Kalyke]

27. Wow - that makes three administration members I actually like.

Most of his picks have left me rather cold (still better than Republicans, I guess).

[Cha]

28. This is great news, ya'll..'cause you

just know if the repukes could get their greedy hands on the internet they would.

[lostnotforgotten]

32. Finally - Some Good News About An Obama Selection

eom

[Occam Bandage]

33. kick.

[TheKentuckian]

35. K&R net neutrality is one of the fundamental keys to maintaining

some semblance of democracy around here. I wonder if folks appreciate how anti-corporate a stance like this is as we move into the future?