Tell the FCC Your Feelings About Net Neutrality

So, do you like the internet?  Do you like the concept of the exchange of ideas, communication, education, and business online?  Do you like Netflix or any other streaming service?  Would you like to pay more for that than you already do? 

“What?”

Yes, that’s what will happen if the FCC says, “No” to Net Neutrality.  Expect your internet provider to create multi-tiered system for the flow of information.  Expect that your streaming & download speed will slow unless you pay a premium.

“That won’t happen.”

Really?  Tom Wheeler, the Chairman of the FCC, was a lobbyist for the telecom industry before he, “took control of the body that regulates the telecom industry.”  Yeah, that’s not biased in the least. 

Here is your chance to tell the FCC what you think about that. 

“HOW?”

Click on this link to Adam Clark Estes article on Gizmodo, entitled, “How to Yell at the FCC About Net Neutrality… Sort Of”: http://gizmodo.com/how-to-yell-at-the-fcc-about-how-much-you-hate-its-net-1576943170/1604730099/+ace?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_facebook&utm_source=gizmodo_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow   

It is an excellent, to the point article.  The FCC will be accepting these submissions until midnight of July 15; although, they will still accept them until September 10^th.  I can’t tell you what to say but I can tell you what I said.  It went something like this…

An internet without Net Neutrality is an internet in the control of a handful of corporations that will do nothing but exploit the users.  This would be, most certainly, a monopoly.  Making a tiered system for the flow of bandwidth hurts everyone – ultimately even those who would profit by letting this atrocity happen.  A free and open internet fosters growth and communication.  By imposing a ‘closed internet’ we would be entering an electronic telecom feudal system, lorded over by third parties whose only purpose is to abuse the net for their own gains.  The potential for censorship, oppression, exploitation, by the restrictions that our new electronic telecom keepers deem fit is far too high a price to pay.

Please say, “Yes” to Net Neutrality.  Keep the net open.  Keep the net free.  Do the right thing.

Thank you.

Gentle Reader, if you are so inclined, take the time and tell the FCC what you think about Net Neutrality.  Time is fleeting and you have a right to be heard.

“I fight for the User.” – TRON (...also, Evil Chicken)

The Privacy Poll

This afternoon I took a Facebook poll on privacy.  I answered how satisfied I was with the privacy settings and if I felt they were easy to find.  Then there was a box for my comments so I commented.

"I enjoy FB.  However, privacy is an illusion.  I self-censor and I’m mindful of what I post, both status updates and with pictures.  FB is a free service but information is the new currency & knowledge is power.  That makes information priceless.  Right now FB is the 900 lbs. gorilla in Social Media and people, being people, like to share information about their favorite things; themselves.  I’m cautious as to what I share and to what extent I share it, I don’t think you can’t make a setting for that - yet.  I know this isn’t a space for questions but what is FB’s stance on CISPA?  - Thank you for your time."

And that was that. 

The price of admission these days is tied to data – your data.  I love Social Media; further, I am an apologist & proponent for it.  At this point in our history and, I hope, far into the future a user driven, free & open internet is in the world’s best interest.  That said, if you are going to participate in Social Media be it Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, Pinerest, or even blogging you should be aware of the price.  For many, including me, it is still worth the price of admission but that cost may be increasing if members of Congress had their way; CISPA (Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act) passed in the House but failed in the Senate.  It is only a matter of time before someone else who has no idea or concept of what they are talking about proposes legislation to take away your online freedoms & compromise your personal information.  I hope whatever may come next meets a similar fate as CISPA & SOPA before it. 

“You must pay for everything in this world one way and another. There is nothing free except the Grace of God. You cannot earn that or deserve it.” ― Charles Portis, True Grit

Senator Wyden

Senator Wyden

I few minutes ago I saw this on Twitter: http://wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter-to-internet.pdf.  I had to post it here on the electronic pages of Chicken Scratch.

Thank you, Sir.  I sincerely hope that yours is the dominant opinion in this matter.  All the best.