Letter: Time to pay attention to net-neutrality
To the community,
Comcast, my father’s Internet provider, has illegally slowed Internet speeds to chosen users. Net-neutrality may sound boring, but it’s not. Soon you may be the target of discrimination, too. How often are you online? Our way of life depends on it.
Concerned about these and other developments the Internet industry, I wrote to Congressman [Tom] McClintock, I asked him to support proposed FCC rule changes that would regulate the Internet more like a public utility. I want the Internet managed not solely for a profit, but as an essential public good. My daughter’s future depends on it.
Mr. McClintock responded that he strongly opposes government regulation that limits markets.
That argument sounds principled and traditionally all-American, but it isn’t. Our government was an innovation founded explicitly to support the power of people to stand against the tyranny of concentrated power. If commercial profits were the only worthy goal, we would not today have the free and open communication, education or transportation systems that underpin the American way of life.
Frustrated with McClintock’s extremist position, I did a little (Internet) research.
This year, Internet companies have donated nearly $9 million to Congress. In the last election, it cost, on average, $1.6 million to win a House seat. Rep. McClintock spent $5.69 per vote in our area, and the computer/Internet sector was one of Mr. McClintock’s top donors.
This experience illustrates two important points:
1. The Internet is fundamental to our access to information — and so power — and it must be regulated as a public good. Express your American values. Show your support for a fair and open Internet.
2. Rep. McClintock is up for re-election this fall. Though congressional approval ratings are down to 9 percent, we are likely to do what we always do — re-elect the (monied) incumbent. Do your research. Then vote your real interests.
Bonnie Turnbull, South Lake Tahoe
Freepress.org, claims this country doesn’t even rank in the top 25% most free press nations the last time I checked. Reality check time.
Government regulation works where? The answer is No-where, ask Bummer about his Bummer care. Let the market work, switch providers if you need to, leave the government out of it. Wanting the government to do something is wrong because it will just make it far worse.
Justice- Do you remember when the unregulated market led to rivers that caught fire?
Mcclintok is a do nothing politician and has done absolutly nothing in his political career except what the teapartiers want him to do. Hope he is standing in the unemployment line soon.