The House of Representatives has approved the procedures for a joint resolution that would overturn the FCC's controversial Net neutrality rules. The resolution (PDF) is scheduled for a vote on Thursday in the GOP-controlled House. If it passes, it would then move on to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where its chances of survival are less certain. Even if it passes the Senate, though, the White House would likely veto the measure.

Tags: Democrats, FCC, house of representatives, HouseOfRepresentatives, Net Neutrality, NetNeutrality, obama, politics, republicans, top, veto, Web, white house, WhiteHouse

source: Ars Technica

Net Neutrality is an important issue.  It even keeps the telecoms from gouging the federal, state and local governments.  It keeps the Internet open and affordable to everyone.

Network neutrality

The corporations that are against net neutrality, which guarantees an open free speech internet and one that is affordable to all, includes AT&T, Comcast, Viacom, FOX News, Verizon and other phone, broadcasting and cable companies.  These corporations want the end of net neutrality so they can jack up the prices on thier rates for both the average consumer and Internet sites like Google and You Tube.  If Obama goes back on his campaign promises, especially Net Neutrality,  I am going to give him a vote of no confidence and vote for an independent or a Green (If one runs for President) in November, 2012.

"Take, for example, YouTube, the most popular video site online today and one owned by Google. In a world without net neutrality, where Comcast could block any content it wanted to, or charge more for certain types of content, YouTube may have never came to be. If Comcast wanted to develop its own video site, without net neutrality it could have blocked the competition like YouTube, even if the competition was a better product. If Comcast wanted to make an extra buck, it could have charged users an extra monthly fee to access sites like YouTube, impacting YouTube’s growth and popularity.
For companies that make their money delivering services over the Internet, net neutrality is a key business concern. So where’s their fight?

The opposition to net neutrality – rabid teabaggers like Grover Norquist, Glenn Beck, FreedomWorks and the like – are being funded by the phone and cable companies. And these companies have launched a massive advertising and lobbying blitz to get legislators to block the FCC from protecting the Internet, an effort 74 duped Democrats have been stupid enough to sign on to. So where’s the lobbying blitz from companies in favor of net neutrality?"

Net Neutrality

This is from an Email I recieved:


Dear Friend,

Pledge to protect the open Internet today!

Today, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski gave AT&T a decision that was gift-wrapped for the holiday season. By a 3-to-2 vote, the FCC passed a rule that, in the chairman’s words, “protects Internet freedom.”
If only it were true.

After a year of promises to deliver on Net Neutrality, this chairman has pushed through a rule that favors the very industry his FCC is supposed to regulate, leaving Internet users with few protections.

The chairman chose to ignore your voice — and those of more than 2 million people who have urged Washington to support real Net Neutrality. His rule, for the first time in history, allows discrimination over the mobile Internet, paving the way for widespread industry abuses.

Now, the chairman is trying to spin the media that his toothless decision is a win for Internet users. We’re not going to let him get away with that.
Pledge to keep fighting for real Net Neutrality; and use the Internet to spread the word via Twitter, Facebook and e-mail.
Don’t let the FCC get away with fake Net Neutrality. Spread the truth about this bad rule.
We’d be lying if we didn’t tell you that this vote was a major setback. The new rule doesn't do enough to stop the phone and cable companies from dividing the Internet into fast and slow lanes, and it fails to protect wireless users from discrimination. It lets AT&T block your access to third-party applications and require you to use its own preferred applications.

But this bad rule is not the end of the story. Free Press and our many allies are going to keep fighting to secure your right to an Internet without gatekeepers.

By taking action and spreading the word, you’re telling the FCC that this isn’t good enough.

Thank you,

Misty, Craig, Tim and the Free Press Team

Net Neutrality and why

First off, it is the First amendment right for an unfettered Internet.  Second, It keeps the prices down by competition in the market.  Third, the Telcos could rip off and gouge the federal, state and local governments including the military with the Internet prices.