Wide classes of groups are taking telecom cash to repeat whatever they’re told, whether it’s rural Texas school organizations, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.” Some of these groups are created especially for this purpose. Other events, these groups are “co-opted” without knowing what they’re actually helping. The goal overall is easy: to create the image of broad provision for bad ideas the actual public opposition or otherwise would question.
With the discussion over net neutrality warming up once again, ISPs have repeatedly scattered off this tried and true tactic to deceive the press, public, and politicians. As a consequence, we’re seeing various civil rights groups that are further than happy to let large corporations like AT&T and Comcast rent their name for the weekend.
The issue of network neutrality and the influence of a free and open internet has been a state football. Every time the political device swings, this policy discussion becomes difficult, convoluted, and even superior. One thing is crystal clear: The internet should be open and accessible.
For this purpose, we support a strong statutory solution that blesses the basic open internet principles into law. These core beliefs are not suspect and should not be subject to continuous litigation, regulation, and reconsideration. A law locking in net neutrality would preserve net neutrality no matter how the legislative winds blow.
A statutory method also avoids the jurisdictional and classification difficulties that plagued the last FCC. The goal should be development, deployment, and adoption of the high-speed networks that all Americans deserve. Legislation will provide confidence to consumers and business for the foreseeable future.
While there’s no dispute that a Congress-made net neutrality law would be the perfect solution, you may have seen that Congress is so awash in telecom campaign benefactions that crafting a law not riddled with fatal knotholes has been impossible. As a result, the real path forward for those that actually care about net neutrality is to move the existing rules and the FCC’s Title II authority in place which is what these groups should be advocating for.
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