Sat May 3, 2014, 11:00 PM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
Obama's Crony Capitalism will Kill Net Neutrality. New FCC Staff in Bed with ISPs
Former Comcast and Verizon Attorneys Now Manage the FCC and Are About to Kill the Internet
By Lee Fang Under the new proposed system, companies such as Comcast or Verizon will be able to create a tiered Internet, in which websites will have to pay more money for faster speeds, a change that observers predict will curb free speech, stifle innovation and increase costs for consumers. Like so many problems in American government, the policy shift may relate to the pernicious corruption of the revolving door. The FCC is stocked with staffers who have recently worked for Internet Service Providers (ISP) that stand to benefit tremendously from the defeat of net neutrality. The backgrounds of the new FCC staff have not been reported until now. Take Daniel Alvarez, an attorney who has long represented Comcast through the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. In 2010, Alvarez wrote a letter to the FCC on behalf of Comcast protesting net neutrality rules, arguing that regulators failed to appreciate “socially beneficial discrimination.” The proposed rules, Alvarez wrote in the letter co-authored with a top Comcast lobbyist named Joe Waz, should be reconsidered. Today, someone in Comcast’s Philadelphia headquarters is probably smiling. Alvarez is now on the other side, working among a small group of legal advisors hired directly under Tom Wheeler, the new FCC Commissioner who began his job in November.... MUCH MORE DISGUSTING DETAIL AT LINK
|
36 replies, 4172 views
![]() |
Author | Time | Post |
![]() |
Armstead | May 2014 | OP |
woo me with science | May 2014 | #1 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #2 | |
TheBlackAdder | May 2014 | #3 | |
MFrohike | May 2014 | #4 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #6 | |
TheBlackAdder | May 2014 | #11 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #14 | |
jwirr | May 2014 | #18 | |
oneofthe99 | May 2014 | #25 | |
GoneFishin | May 2014 | #27 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #34 | |
Enthusiast | May 2014 | #20 | |
Phlem | May 2014 | #5 | |
Dragonfli | May 2014 | #7 | |
moondust | May 2014 | #8 | |
woo me with science | May 2014 | #9 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #15 | |
QC | May 2014 | #21 | |
SammyWinstonJack | May 2014 | #31 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #33 | |
tiredtoo | May 2014 | #10 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #16 | |
Enthusiast | May 2014 | #22 | |
Doctor_J | May 2014 | #28 | |
Vattel | May 2014 | #12 | |
Dragonfli | May 2014 | #13 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #17 | |
Enthusiast | May 2014 | #19 | |
Doctor_J | May 2014 | #29 | |
librechik | May 2014 | #23 | |
Doctor_J | May 2014 | #24 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #30 | |
raouldukelives | May 2014 | #35 | |
Armstead | May 2014 | #36 | |
City Lights | May 2014 | #26 | |
SammyWinstonJack | May 2014 | #32 |
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sat May 3, 2014, 11:17 PM
woo me with science (32,139 posts)
1. What a predatory disaster this presidency has turned out to be,
over and over and over again.
|
Response to woo me with science (Reply #1)
Sat May 3, 2014, 11:34 PM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
2. No more predatory than most -- but more demoralizing that he's gone the route of corruption
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sat May 3, 2014, 11:52 PM
TheBlackAdder (25,725 posts)
3. You'd only know how wrong you were, if you took courses in politics. The "Iron Triangle".
Select Legislators, Bureaucracies & Special Business interests ONLY!
The average citizen has NO say in what goes on. Just look at the dismantling of the USPS. You have politicians who get legal bribes from business to do their bidding, mostly on select committees. You have businesses who are legally bribing politicians to get them to enact laws and pressure bureaucracies that favor them. Then, there is the stagnant bureaucracy who is at the mercy of the legislators, fearing cuts and executive firings. === The president isn't in this equation. Nice try though. This is strictly by the legislature, accepting funding. Private groups and people are not allowed to participate, because MONEY is the primary driver. |
Response to TheBlackAdder (Reply #3)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:04 AM
MFrohike (1,980 posts)
4. Tip
If you're going to be condescending to people, it helps not to make really dumb mistakes. The president nominates the FCC commissioners who make the rules, so he is very much part of the equation.
|
Response to TheBlackAdder (Reply #3)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:35 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
6. Who the fuck do you think appoints the officials in executive agencies like the FCC?
Response to Armstead (Reply #6)
Sun May 4, 2014, 08:37 AM
TheBlackAdder (25,725 posts)
11. Nice language. The president nominates then, but the Senate confirms them.
That still leaves the influence of the "Iron Triangle" as the primary motivating force.
It all comes down to money. |
Response to TheBlackAdder (Reply #11)
Sun May 4, 2014, 11:48 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
14. (Sorry for the language. I was worked up.) I agree that it all comes down to money but...
The president chooses who is appointed, and he didn't have to pick a Comcast/Cable Industry shill who would, in turn hire his industry-lobbyist friends to key "regulatory" posts within the FCC.
Obama's role in this is inexcusable. |
Response to Armstead (Reply #14)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:22 PM
jwirr (39,215 posts)
18. I often wonder why he nominates the people he does. They often seem like the enemy from
within. To me he seems to think these insiders are going to be able to understand enough to fix the problem when in fact they are part of the problem.
It is l like he does not see the picture we see. |
Response to jwirr (Reply #18)
Sun May 4, 2014, 03:07 PM
oneofthe99 (712 posts)
25. net worth
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/obama-net-worth_n_3281555.html
What would you venture to guess will be his net worth within 3 years after he leaves office' ![]() |
Response to jwirr (Reply #18)
Sun May 4, 2014, 04:20 PM
GoneFishin (5,217 posts)
27. I like the phrase "enemy within". Less folksy sounding than "fox in the hen house".
Both are a good fit though to describe what Obama and Bush before him have done over and over again.
I don't believe this is about appointing knowledgeable people. There is more to it than that. One appointment maybe, but not so farging many of them. |
Response to jwirr (Reply #18)
Mon May 5, 2014, 10:35 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
34. If you're rich or an Insider you're smarter than the rest of us mere mortals
That sometimes seems like the mantra of too many political leaders today.
.......or they're just looking to feather their nest once they leave office |
Response to Armstead (Reply #6)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:37 PM
Enthusiast (50,983 posts)
20. +1 a whole fucking bunch.
![]() |
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:05 AM
Phlem (6,323 posts)
5. Sadly you are wrong.
Obama is perfect in every possible way.
|
Response to Phlem (Reply #5)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:42 AM
Dragonfli (10,622 posts)
7. Unlike Mary Poppins who was only "practically perfect in every way".
Mary was a bit of a slacker...
|
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:47 AM
moondust (18,920 posts)
8. Is it a coincidence
that the Comcast/Time Warner merger is in the works at the same time as this? Sheesh.
|
Response to moondust (Reply #8)
Sun May 4, 2014, 11:49 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
15. The Industry Crooks are making a grb for it all -- and Obama is helping them
Response to Armstead (Reply #15)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:38 PM
QC (26,371 posts)
21. But just wait until his second term--then his true liberal self
will come busting out.
Or so I have been assured. |
Response to QC (Reply #21)
Mon May 5, 2014, 10:22 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
33. More like his true Corporate Self, from the way things are going
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 06:50 AM
tiredtoo (2,698 posts)
10. This type of activity is what drove the college students to Ron Paul
Do not know why but, college students seem to have a fool me once attitude. (sarcasm)
This is also a strong factor in the expected dismal showing of college students in the upcoming mid-terms. |
Response to tiredtoo (Reply #10)
Sun May 4, 2014, 11:50 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
16. Unfortunately I agree -- This is not behavior that will cause people to flock to vote for D's
Response to Armstead (Reply #16)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:40 PM
Enthusiast (50,983 posts)
22. I suspect that is part of the objective.
Sorry to say.
|
Response to Enthusiast (Reply #22)
Sun May 4, 2014, 10:27 PM
Doctor_J (36,392 posts)
28. yep. then the white house will blame those disgusted voters for the loss
in Nov.
|
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 08:43 AM
Vattel (9,289 posts)
12. Please explain in detail
what set of regulations the FCC should put in place, why that set of regulations is superior to all possible alternatives, and how those regulations will withstand all legal challenges. Otherwise STFU! (I am being facetious here.)
|
Response to Vattel (Reply #12)
Sun May 4, 2014, 11:32 AM
Dragonfli (10,622 posts)
13. You are channeling a corporate lawyer and fox news "guest" liberal
I recommend you dive into a vat of salt to banish the darkened spirits.
|
Response to Vattel (Reply #12)
Sun May 4, 2014, 11:51 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
17. I hope you're being facetious.
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:32 PM
Enthusiast (50,983 posts)
19. K&R! Curbing free speech is the objective.
![]() |
Response to Enthusiast (Reply #19)
Sun May 4, 2014, 10:29 PM
Doctor_J (36,392 posts)
29. and enriching the 1% even more
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 12:41 PM
librechik (30,506 posts)
23. after the demise of "commercial-free pay television" (lol) back in the early days of cable
this was inevitable. We've just been in a safe period where they couldn't quite make it happen. Just shitty broadband. Now they have slipped a toe under the tent It's all over anyway. Citizens don't have influence. Thank you Clinton and Obama, among others...
|
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 02:55 PM
Doctor_J (36,392 posts)
24. poll on how the BOG will treat this
1. It's really a great thing
2. The president had nothing to do with it |
Response to Doctor_J (Reply #24)
Mon May 5, 2014, 07:26 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
30. 3)Ignore it because it is so outrageously awful there is no defense of it
Response to Armstead (Reply #30)
Mon May 5, 2014, 10:53 AM
raouldukelives (5,178 posts)
35. 4) Launch of the indisputable emoticons.
![]() |
Response to raouldukelives (Reply #35)
Tue May 6, 2014, 06:33 AM
Armstead (47,803 posts)
36. You're using one of the favorites
![]() |
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Sun May 4, 2014, 03:12 PM
City Lights (25,171 posts)
26. Well, isn't that special!
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Response to Armstead (Original post)
Mon May 5, 2014, 07:39 AM
SammyWinstonJack (44,095 posts)