"Net neutrality is the most important free speech issue of our time. And that's why, this Tuesday, when the FCC meets to discuss this badly flawed proposal, I'll be watching. If they approve it as is, I'll be outraged. And you should be, too," writes Al Franken.

Portrait, Senator Al Franken, 09/06/09. (photo: Jeffrey Thompson/Getty Images)

The Most Important Free Speech Issue
of Our Time

By Senator Al Franken, Reader Supported News

20 December 10

his Tuesday is an important day in the fight to save the Internet.

As a source of innovation, an engine of our economy, and a forum for our political discourse, the Internet can only work if it's a truly level playing field. Small businesses should have the same ability to reach customers as powerful corporations. A blogger should have the same ability to find an audience as a media conglomerate.

This principle is called "net neutrality" - and it's under attack. Internet service giants like Comcast and Verizon want to offer premium and privileged access to the Internet for corporations who can afford to pay for it.

The good news is that the Federal Communications Commission has the power to issue regulations that protect net neutrality. The bad news is that draft regulations written by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski don't do that at all. They're worse than nothing.

That's why Tuesday is such an important day. The FCC will be meeting to discuss those regulations, and we must make sure that its members understand that allowing corporations to control the Internet is simply unacceptable.

Although Chairman Genachowski's draft Order has not been made public, early reports make clear that it falls far short of protecting net neutrality.

For many Americans - particularly those who live in rural areas - the future of the Internet lies in mobile services. But the draft Order would effectively permit Internet providers to block lawful content, applications, and devices on mobile Internet connections.

Mobile networks like AT&T and Verizon Wireless would be able to shut off your access to content or applications for any reason. For instance, Verizon could prevent you from accessing Google Maps on your phone, forcing you to use their own mapping program, Verizon Navigator, even if it costs money to use and isn't nearly as good. Or a mobile provider with a political agenda could prevent you from downloading an app that connects you with the Obama campaign (or, for that matter, a Tea Party group in your area).

It gets worse. The FCC has never before explicitly allowed discrimination on the Internet - but the draft Order takes a step backwards, merely stating that so-called "paid prioritization" (the creation of a "fast lane" for big corporations who can afford to pay for it) is cause for concern.

It sure is - but that's exactly why the FCC should ban it. Instead, the draft Order would have the effect of actually relaxing restrictions on this kind of discrimination.

What's more, even the protections that are established in the draft Order would be weak because it defines "broadband Internet access service" too narrowly, making it easy for powerful corporations to get around the rules.

Here's what's most troubling of all. Chairman Genachowski and President Obama - who nominated him - have argued convincingly that they support net neutrality.

But grassroots supporters of net neutrality are beginning to wonder if we've been had. Instead of proposing regulations that would truly protect net neutrality, reports indicate that Chairman Genachowski has been calling the CEOs of major Internet corporations seeking their public endorsement of this draft proposal, which would destroy it.

No chairman should be soliciting sign-off from the corporations that his agency is supposed to regulate - and no true advocate of a free and open Internet should be seeking the permission of large media conglomerates before issuing new rules.

After all, just look at Comcast - this Internet monolith has reportedly imposed a new, recurring fee on Level 3 Communications, the company slated to be the primary online delivery provider for Netflix. That's the same Netflix that represents Comcast's biggest competition in video services.

Imagine if Comcast customers couldn't watch Netflix, but were limited only to Comcast's Video On Demand service. Imagine if a cable news network could get its website to load faster on your computer than your favorite local political blog. Imagine if big corporations with their own agenda could decide who wins or loses online. The Internet as we know it would cease to exist.

That's why net neutrality is the most important free speech issue of our time. And that's why, this Tuesday, when the FCC meets to discuss this badly flawed proposal, I'll be watching. If they approve it as is, I'll be outraged. And you should be, too.

Comments

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+65 # Sean de Waal 2010-12-20 17:53

Outraged? But what would you DO? Citizens are outraged all the time but the politicians and conglomerates understand how easily the masses simply slide back into apathy.

Actions speak louder...and all of that

+20 # jlthome 2010-12-21 05:12

When agencies propose new regulations it is up to the interested parties (citizens) to "comment" on the regs. This is the level of government most open to citizens for making their wishes known. Sen. Franken is alerting you to pay attention to the FCC actions and to make your wishes known, either pro or con, as "public comment". It is not a legislative issue up for vote. It is up to citizens to contact the agency and state their position. Corporations with their vested interest will make their position known to the FCC during the "comment period". Individuals or, organizations supporting individual's position need to also make their position known. I believe that's how the rule making power works.

+26 # RCWalters 2010-12-21 05:44

Bravo. Outraged frustration has become the norm for many of us, me included, but doing somethin about it, or at least finding out HOW to do something is what is the necessary step toward correcting abuses.

+24 # Louise Glynn Barr 2010-12-21 12:24

I am 80 years old and haven't enough money to donate to anything , . . .but I am indeed outraged to see my beloved country slipping steadily into the hands of uncaring rich people and idiotic "toadies. My grandparents came from France. I keep thinking of the French Revolution against the excesses of the "aristocrats" in the face of the sufferings of the poor!

+8 # Bill Murray 2010-12-23 04:54

If things continue as they have been heading there may be revolt and justifiably so.

-1 # Jack Schlatter 2010-12-30 17:20

You seem to have forgotten that the French Revolution led to the Time of Terror...This is just another attempt by the Left to CONTROL...about giving dissenting views held by captive union members a voice...

+9 # genierae 2010-12-22 10:33

Employed at a job where the workload increased regularly, while the wages stayed pretty much the same, I was outraged. We had regular meetings where we vented our anger, and everyone thought they had accomplished something. Sure. Once every couple of months we were "allowed" to vent, while nothing whatsoever changed for the better. That is exactly what is happening now in our government. Our input is welcomed, then the powers that be do whatever they choose, without any thought for what we the people want. What a con! The American people are irrelevant to their own government. Whether its led by Dems or Repubs, and no matter what our majority says in the polls, we get ignored. I see no solution to this.

+1 # carioca 2010-12-26 00:44

If you advocate anything stronger than mere online petitions, internet banter, and email campaigns, well then, you could be charged with treason.

They'll try throwing the treason book at anyone, even non-Americans.

+42 # JUDY WAGNER 2010-12-20 19:35

THANX AL.
NET NEUTRALITY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. THEY TAKE OVER ONE STEP AT A TIME, CHIPPING AWAY AT OUR FREEDOMS. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

+20 # Esam Nader 2010-12-20 22:32

Whatgood works?1 Talk, talk, Talk... Where is the action! Where is Congressional oversight!!!!

+46 # María Eugenia Sáez 2010-12-20 20:43

Please generate a letter we can sign in support of your proposal

+22 # Lee Black 2010-12-21 06:05

Petition not needed - this site gives you an address for writing to the chairman or members:

http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html

+8 # bg 2010-12-21 10:50

Your right Lee. I just sent an e-mail to the chairman. We should all do it! For what it is worth. Let our voices be heard.

+9 # Hors-D-whores 2010-12-21 13:50

Thank you Lee, I just wrote to the chairman. Maybe we should send this article to our friends, and give them the link to write as well.

Al Franken has certainly turned out to be a very good Senator.
Love him.

+17 # HAL 2010-12-20 21:04

Hey, the internet is a great system as we all know, so why shouldn't the greedy corporations make a run at controlling it? They have done likewise with tv broadcasting and radio and so much print material. Now, like sharks, they are circling a new tidbit to eat! This is a new test of whether congress represents us, or these corporate greedheads. So now is the time to make some bets on who will come out ahead! With regrets, I'm betting on the fat cats.

+21 # kmcfadden@yahoo.com 2010-12-20 21:55

so what is happening to free speech and access to information. Is it another thing tossed to the dollar sign. Forget the Truth.

+38 # C.P. 2010-12-20 21:55

Apparently, Mr. Obama had no idea that his appointee had this plan in mind. The obvious solution is to remove the appointee ASAP.

+16 # Esam Nader 2010-12-20 22:27

Obama has been a disaster. The wars are continued and expanded, policies initiated under Bush is continuing, Health care so called reform is a sham, He sold us out!

+20 # Cabbagehead 2010-12-20 22:12

Al Franken, good to hear from you again. Have not seen a single Internet item with your name since you were elected. Am I living in a different world, or have you been boycotted by even the liberal media? Al, there are few Dems who give us any hope. Press on.

+17 # Mark S. Dymally 2010-12-20 22:19

This is really dangerous stuff here. I certainly do not want COMCAST or any of their competitors controlling access to free commumication on the "net" or in any other form--dangerous, dangerous stuff!! I really don't want COMCAST controlling anything they're a horrible company that needs tight regulation. NO COMCAST!!

+17 # John Spence 2010-12-20 22:19

So ... what can we do? Most of us have given up on the standard. Write all the letters you want. Appeal to your congressman or -woman. Nobody is listening or perhaps the cacophony is so great that nobody can hear any message so they do what they damn well please, driven by what seems best (for them). Go get 'em, Al ... if you can. If you need help, tell us how to be effective in a society that can simply black out the Hedges et al war protest a few days ago. Nobody who matters is listening. I hope you don't tire of the game.

+14 # Mark S. Dymally 2010-12-20 22:26

I certainly do not want COMCAST to have any more control over the communications network than they now have. They, COMCAST are a horrible, mercenary company and have no business intruding over or on the internet. This is wrong, wrong and more wrong!

+6 # Regina 2010-12-21 22:12

And they're about to acquire NBC. Isn't that a jolly prospect!

+14 # cordleycoit 2010-12-20 22:53

This is it the big boys going to attempt to walk over us while Obama plays lap dog to big big money. Nothing new there. It's all a control issue. We have the best government money can buy. The Internet will soon look like network television if these guys get to buy their way with our rights.

+16 # giraffe 2010-12-20 23:08

Don't ask the United States Supreme Court RULE on this issue -- they will give more of our liberty to the BIG corporations - just as they have handed our elections to BIG (maybe even foreign) corporations.

They screw with my "internet" access and I'll start (join) the march on wherever it goes -- screaming with the crow (led by Al and Jon Stewart etc) -- ENOUGH --

Actually -- I think the biggest corruption in our governing persons are the RIGHT side of the UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT --- (DON'T FORGET THEY PUT "W" IN THE W.H. IN 2000)

+8 # tomas Belsky 2010-12-21 01:47

what if the pres knew where whatshisnamesky
stood on the issue?? Make a big noise Senator, someone has got to tell it like it is. the people will take it from there. this is a war where nerds are the heavy artillery. Corporate capitalism is killing us and not so slowly.

+11 # tomas belsky 2010-12-21 01:59

This is a very intelligent pres, and to think he did not know where whateverhisname sky stood on such an important issue is naive and unbelievable.
Make a big noise Senator, a very big noise.
the people will take it from there. the battle is for the frontline nerds. Our national heroes. Corporate capitalism is killing us and not so softly as the song suggests.

+10 # Steven Boyer 2010-12-21 04:14

We the people have one enormously powerful tool - as boring as it sounds it is the boycott. We have the ability to bring offending corporations to their knees simply by exercising basic rules of economics. It would not be painless for us as individuals but the message to corporations would be priceless.

+9 # oracorf 2010-12-21 04:34

One way to fight is by flooding the FCC and the White House with e-mails

+15 # eldoryder 2010-12-21 04:36

I'm still convinced that the massive bandwidth giveaway to Corporations in the Communications Act of 1996 should result in the Corporations having to "pay back" some of the BILLIONS of dollars worth of OUR property in the form of FREE TV TIME for qualified candidates as part of a whole "Clean Elections" strategy.

If they get their foot in the door through this latest mechanism, then they'll be NO stopping future thievery, and NO chance that we can ever see CLEAN ELECTION properties return the political process back to the PEOPLE and not the CORPORATIONS.

+12 # Wolfchen 2010-12-21 07:12

Without public financing and free media time for political elections, we'll never have citizen control of our government. We are increasingly under the control of Corporatism (Mussolini's term for Fascism). Further, we'll never have a Supreme Court tamper proof form of public financing of elections without a strong majority of the electorate demanding an enabling constitutional amendment to this end.

+6 # SOF 2010-12-21 12:56

Agree. Media made $$$$ from elections without any factcheck or equal time.... Debates are Stupid and Unfair since election commission took over from League of Women Voters.
Many places still have Diebolt voting machines with no paper trail and easily hacked. Perhaps the WikiLeaks fallout will convince people of potential to hack our votes. I believe they did/do.
The Clean Election system is also under fire -even from McCain! Media outlets and unscrupulous lobbyists and congresspeople are invested in VERY expensive elections that can be bought by big money.
Corporate media is a huge problem. Progressives know about the spin and omiission of news. Republicans WILL try to defund Public Media. Reagan to Bush people tried to subvert it. It is the ONLY non-corporate News (with investigative and foreign journalists) respected and nonnpartisan, that is readily available (unless you're rural where PBS is bundled with the egghead, science, weather channels or there's no reception with our new-fangled digital scam system) This Supreme Ct decision is ruinous -corporate news manipulation, the end of PBS and net neutrality will finish off our frail democracy.

+9 # greg 2010-12-21 04:57

We've been had in every other imaginable way, I'm sure we'll be had this way also. Anyone who thinks that the government represents the people have been asleep for a long time. The will and needs of the People have been ignored for a long time. "Taxation without representation is Tyranny!". That's where we are

+12 # The Saint 2010-12-21 05:01

Vandana Shiva rightly points out how corporations "enclose the commons" whether seeds, water, air, land. Now they want to privatize the Internet commons. There should be no surprise at this--or at the lackey "regulators" who serve them.(Think of Banks) They must be opposed by all of us but especially political figures like Franken and Sanders. Wish Obama would step up.

+4 # Jawbone Grouch 2010-12-21 05:02

C.P.
I wouldn't be to sure about that!
The President is obviously a detail man and no detail is lightly considered; at least from past history of two years.

But then, I could be wrong.

+12 # Wolfchen 2010-12-21 06:06

Remember the incompetent appointments that Obama made to his financial advisers team. Many of them are the same Wall Street and Corporation kissing types who played a major roll in bringing about the financial crisis that will still take many years to rectify. The banks are now larger then ever before, and the CEOs are still playing us all for dupes. What is even worse is that many of the electorate gleefully support the robber barons and those who insist on further deregulations of corporations. Note that even Obama has made no attempt to see Glass Steagall reenacted. Therefore it should come as no surprise when it comes to his choice for FCC chairman. Ah yes…and then there is his being snookered into backing the continuation of tax cuts for the superrich…thus adding almost another trillion to our already overburdening national debt. The Democrats need to run a strong and viable candidate to oppose Obama in the 2012 elections. Many of the electorate also need a brain.

+3 # tomo 2010-12-23 18:43

Wolfchen--I agree with the whole comment you've put here--except for the word "snookered." I don't think Obama is being snookered on anything. I listened to him both in 2004 and then extensively throughout 2008. The guy's intelligent. I endorse rather the imputation of your "comes as no surprise." Obama has not been snookered; the pattern is too systematic for that to be the case. WE have been snookered. Obama has carried off the smoothest bait-and-switch trick I have ever seen.

+4 # propsguy 2010-12-21 06:39

frankly, i think our government's attempt to prosecute julian assange and bradley manning is the most important freedom of speech issue of our time but it seems everything is a crisis these days

+7 # Colin Cote 2010-12-21 06:58

"The tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure"...Thomas Jefferson. Time to water the plants!

+7 # skylark 2010-12-21 07:07

Cripes Al,give us a lead! Like tel.nos to call. Get a petition started. If this info is available, someone please re-submit.

+7 # lee nason 2010-12-21 07:29

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If Comcast, a company I despise, presents information unfairly, competitors will win their customers and they will go bankrupt, but, oh, I forgot, the competitors can't do that because Markey gave them a "regulated" monopoly.

I am already obliged to purchase services from Comcast precisely because of regulatory rules. Get rid of those government sponsored monopolies first and let's see how many of us move to smaller, nimbler, most cost effective, and perhaps more fair alternatives.

Lee Nason
New Bedford, Massachusetts

+5 # Robert Griffin 2010-12-21 12:31

It warn't broke, but some companies were fixin' to break it.
I do agree about getting rid of government sponsored monopolies.

+11 # Gussie 2010-12-21 07:51

For those who protest they do not protest
because they fo not know how: pick up a
Black Wide Sharpie, apply your words of
protest to a t-shirt. sash, scarf, sweatshirt,
banner, pennant, balloon -- wear, hang, wave,
carry, tie on car or dog -- in public where
many people are gathered like malls, grocery
stores, churches, football games.
It's fun, some people join you and many give you
a hands up, if you gather more than ten
people phone your local tv stations and they
will bring cameras.
How can anyone call themselves a citizen
without getting out of your home or room or tent
and expressing your thoughts publically?
Nothing less has ever worked to change
anything for the better.

+9 # Gere 2010-12-21 08:01

Senator Franklin please write a petition for all of us to sign. We were not effective stopping the repeal of Glass-Steagall before our government allowed financial institutions to fly our country into the ground. That pain might just be comparable to the pain we feel when RSN and free Internet speech is blocked.

+10 # DLC 2010-12-21 08:39

It seems like I've been outraged since Obama was elected. Outrage didn't stop the wars, or dismantling oversight in every aspect of our country from mining to drugs and food to financial institutions. Congress just opened the door to closing down Social Security. I'm tired of outrage. I want action, or it doesn't matter who's elected - in any party.

+12 # Sally 2010-12-21 09:44

Wouldn't you like to have more power than an email to a deaf/blind congressman?
People who "take to the streets" are arrested and branded as irrational radicals.
Please, Lord, let the people's rights prevail. This senior, with a broken back (literally) desires peace, yet, is ready to rebell those who have sold us out to corporate interests.

-15 # Alexis Marsters 2010-12-21 13:16

I am literally "sick" of these so-called politicians who claim to be representing the American people. They do NOT represent what the will of the people is!! Listen to Glenn Beck sometime and find out just what's happening in our country!! It'll make your blood boil! Our Constitution is the law of the land, but the progressives in Washington want to get rid of it to further their agenda. Look out America; the internet is just the beginning of a Goliath yet to come! I absolutely oppose this draft bill!!!

-4 # Curlylocks 2010-12-22 07:59

What's with the -5?? Don't you agree that this country is going down the tubes??

+8 # ultimus gimp 2010-12-22 10:38

yes and glenn beck is one of the corporate shills helping it along

+2 # Suzy 2010-12-25 08:05

Sorry Alexis but Glenn Beck is just another Sleaze bag out there convincing folks of all sorts of nutty theories. The only place to get neutral opinions (in my mind anyways) is NPR (of course Mr Beck thinks it's a leftist organization, of course he does, he is the definition of a Paranoid). I wouldn't believe one work that idiot says with out checking it out at snopes!

Besides he is probably all for the take over of large corporations, where do you think his grossly over the top salary comes from. Please inform your self! He is a carnival barker.

+5 # robhood 2010-12-21 13:27

They did it, and they did it with Obama's blessing! FCC has announced its new rules creating a 2-tiered, subjectively censored internet. This could well be the beginning of the end of unfettered mass-communication by "we the people". We need to fight this thing now, before it is too late. If anyone has ideas, i'd like to help. I've "tweeted" it, facebooked it, and i've called family and friends, written my political reps and the editor of my local paper.

+7 # Wolfchen 2010-12-21 14:52

On the bright side, the currently approved version is subject to future amendments if it appears that the wireless providers are abusing their licenses.

In reviewing earlier posts it appears that there are some who believe that we should listen to Glenn Beck (that paragon of virtue, piety and truth...along with the Limbaugh and Coulter types), and find out just what's happening in our country. They also believe that Progressives in Washington want to get rid of the Constitution. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. It doth appear to me as though America is increasingly becoming a cuckoo’s nest. No wonder that many other countries, when they listen to our media and review our low test scores in language, history and sciences, are convinced that we are a nation in the grips of madness and decline...being done-in by our own raving fundamentalism. Ya just gotta love it: Hail the Second Coming of Glenn Beck, who is here not to save compassion and sanity but to bury them. Glory Hallelujah...their truth keeps marching on with loud goose-stepping thuds.

+5 # Hors-D-whores 2010-12-21 15:47

Nice of you to look at the bright side, and I hope that is true, but often when bills are passed, a lot of damage is done before it is changed, (such as DADT) before it is correct.
On the rest of your comment, well said. We are certainly seeing the nuttier side of people, thanks for the lack of proper journalism being done by most "news" organizations, at least those that most people watch.

+6 # Wolfchen 2010-12-21 16:41

Point well taken...much damage through thoughtless entrenchment is often the child of bills ill conceived.
Even so, this partial victory may be worth the chance-taking. Eventually wireless broadband speeds will be greatly increased, whereby limitations on downloads may not be significant impediments to a free internet via wireless delivery. Also n more open wired internet will partially serve to limit unacceptable limitations on the wired version.

Another reference to ill conceive bills is the current health bill that was recently passed. It shamefully locks in increased business for the insurance industry. Real universal health care reform would have taken on the features of a Universal Health Care-Single Payer system that eliminates insurance companies from the equation. Such a single payer plan would be much more economical as well as being truly universal in coverage. Perhaps a state like California will have to show the way for such reform. It would have such a system already in place if the legislation had not been vetoed by Schwarzenegger, who will be replaced by Governor Brown in January, 2011.

-11 # Curlylocks 2010-12-22 08:03

It would seem that the health care bill is only another way for government to take over yet another institution they can bankrupt like the post office, social security, the COUNTRY??!!!! And just because you don't want to hear the truth, does not make Glenn Beck someone who is here to bury compassion and sanity!!

+9 # genierae 2010-12-23 05:57

Curlylocks: Right-wing ignorance is a thick husk that insulates you from reality. You need to watch Maddow, Schultz, and Olbermann for a month or so, they will tell you the truth. A constant diet of Beck propaganda will eat away your brain. Wake up!

+2 # Daniel Fletcher 2010-12-24 00:41

Curlylocks...what a load of crock. I won't even try to persuade you to the truth. I'll just say it and you can take it any way you want. The health care bill is a corporate gift that Obama has bestowed. Any health insurer not in a position to be making a killing off of it is fundamentally incompetent and should be allowed to go out of business without a doubt. The new health care bill does not save the consumer one dime. With this bill the insurance industry, WHICH SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS ONCE AND FOR ALL, will thrive. The post office doesn't cost me nearly as much as private mail and delivery service does...not even close. Maybe the problem with the post office is that they aren't charging enough. Social Security isn't even close to going bankrupt and never was but thanks to the Rethugliecons and complicity by Obama on their behalf, funding for it will be reduced and benefits will be negatively affected...exactly what the Rethugliecons are after and they will destroy it if they get the chance. That won't take more than two to six years to do. The country is going bankrupt because the wealthy are vastly undertaxed compared to other first world nations. Beck's truth? WTF!

+3 # Wm. Hibbard 2010-12-21 20:07

Outrage, not enough... Apathy too much!
There must be the leader we need somewhere in this country. Al, is it you? Jon Stewart? Steven Colbert, you'd easily have much of the Right from the start you speak Republicanese so well.
Now Michael Moore you dark horse you, we'ed have to tweak your look some but I trust you all because, you care, you speak the truth to power and I'm pretty sure you all would take action. PS what happened to the 'bank-run' of a week or 2 ago?

+1 # LawrenceEfana 2010-12-22 07:11

A worthy cause to be aggitated. Very often we ignorantly and by greed abort the progress we make and later cry over our failures. There must be a moderate way to balance interests with responsible exercise of democratic values.

+3 # instantmitch 2010-12-23 05:10

The answer isn't 4 comment after comment to whine about there isn't anything we can do or someone else should do something. The answer is to step onto the court. Ratification of New Start is an ex. Married to someone who spent yrs on loose nukes & seeing elected offic. give their all, (Lugar/Nunn) results happen. Apathy & complacency are the enemy. Action is the solution. 'They' (Comcast etc.) are testing the waters. You have the choice, let them know they have clear sailing by inaction or let them know there are 'sharks in the water' and we arn't pushovers. This isn't a complex issue difficult to get your head around. Let's not wait till our individual carrier thinks we are a danger and our internet service for some 'odd' reason won't let us use our computers to get the word out. How about urging Franken to help, calling AND writing our individual officals, AND getting others involved by sharing your concerns in a factual and expedient way. This issue should not be a Repub/Demo/rich/poor issue, it's a freedom of speech issue. Inaction will let the rich errode things further. While in action, also think about the latest changes to campaign spending. Shocking. We waited quietly too long.

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