The internet is a rather complex thing to grasp, something most of us simply take for granted.  I liken our collective use of internet to a teenager being introduced to the magic of driving.  We all remember those awkward “Dial-Up” days of driver’s education.  Everything was new, and we were required to learn new tasks like periled parking that today seem simple.  Together we all got used to putting 3 w’s in front of everything, a .com at the end and using that strange symbol over the 2 on the keyboard to send an email.

Everyone here remembers that exciting day when we were handed the keys to freedom and like that first victory lap in the family roadster, we plugged into a broadband high speed internet connection, and the whole world changed. In the time sense then we have cruised down the road, with not a care in the world for how this thing even works.  It wasn’t till the first time the breaks failed, or we didn’t have a seatbelt on that we came to realize the knowing a bit about how a car woks is important.  So to is the internet we all share today.  If we do not pay attention to the car, the mechanic, or the road bad things will happen.  Ironically our Federal Government is looking at the worlds last privately owned national network, and claiming it like the highway system is there’s to gain control of and own. 

Up till now the FCC has plaid a minimal roll in regulation of the telecommunications companies that have invested billions of privet money into today’s network.  Many of the rules that guide the day to day functioning and activity of our nations broadband network, has been settled by the courts, as with any healthy industry.  I say healthy, because unlike banks, auto manufactures, and major retailers this industry still has both good profits, and a robust pool of investment cash for witch to grow and improve with.

This spring’s Stimulus package included the allocation of funds to expand our broadband network to rural areas where only dial-up is still available. While over $7.8 Billion dollars have been put on the table to expand broadband internet access the largest providers of services including AT&T, Verizon and Comcast have not taken the money to expand infrastructure from the federal government.   The funding was available with a major string attached, government regulation including new “Net Neutrality” laws that would prevent traffic management on their networks and diminishing network speeds globally.

Now 3 months later, since the industry would not come to the regulatory table willingly, the industry is being (in the words of Bill Marh) “Dragged to it”.  On Thursday H.R. 3458 was introduced in the House of Representatives, and referred to Energy and Commerce Committee.  This is not the first time, Congressman Markey (of Crap and Trade fame) has introduced such legislation, but it has died each time in committee.  In fact this is the third time, so what’s different?

Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd

"In Venezuela, with Chavez, is really an incredible revolution - a democratic revolution. To begin to put in place things that are going to have an impact on the people of Venezuela. "The property owners and the folks who then controlled the media in Venezuela rebelled - worked, frankly, with folks here in the U.S. government - worked to oust him. But he came back with another revolution, and then Chavez began to take very seriously the media in his country."

First off, President Obama is in the House!  Then there is that “Majority” thing that is working out so well with Healthcare.  Then there is that quiet appointment of the FCC’s Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd, who is already shaking things up with his public comments about admiring Hugo Chavez and his “Incredible Revolution” that worked out so well after he took over the majority of TV and Radio in his county to eliminate negative press.  In the names of “Diversity” and “Discrimination” he is leading the charge for government control of the air waves in the U.S. with Covez as his idol.  That brings me to the other thing that has changed in Mackey’s latest bill.

New words: The term “Diversity” was never there, now it is.  “Discrimination” appears 9 times, and so dose the term “Lawful Content”.

Also a new ability for customers to lodge complaints to the FCC against an ISP, should all content not be available at the same speed for the same price.  Violators will face swift and heavy fines, and the fines will be awarded to the person filing the complaint.  Imagine a liberal bog, or millions of them are receiving money for a complaint, and then watching the bandwidth of your Rush Limbaugh podcast or Streaming audio of WHLO being reduced to the point were it will barley function.  And imagine this happening while one by one the stations we all listen to are pulled of the air one by one in the name of diversity.  Imagine to the amazing redistribution of wealth as these profitable companies are sucked dry by armies of complainers who get paid for every ruling in their favor.

Sure it sounds absurd, but I’m not coming up with this just from the language in the bill.  I’ve read hundreds of pages of FCC reports praising Government ownership of these networks.  None of them mentioned China or Iran, and I think we all know why.  I’ve also looked to what Mark Lloyd himself wrote in a 2008 article titled “Net Neutrality Is a Civil Rights Issue”

“Communities of color and other under-represented groups have long fought for a more diverse and inclusive media system. Discrimination and segregation prevented people of color from obtaining radio or TV licenses when these mediums were first created. During the 1970s, cable promised to be a real alternative to TV for communities of color seeking diverse programming; it didn't happen. Yet, many of these very same companies now want to prevent Internet users, including people of color, from accessing diverse online content of their choice.”

Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd

"We're in a position where you have to say who is going to step down so someone else can have power."

Lloyd’s misleading and completely false application of “Diversity” and “Discrimination” is simply a means that justify the end game of Government seizure of privet property, Collapsing of a privet industry, and Control over internet content just as he wishes to do to talk radio.  Community organizations all over the country smell the opportunity to profit off this transition, and are coming out of the woodwork to rally behind this new application of Net Neutrality in the most devious of ways.  Hundreds of pro Net Neutrality web sites have popped up all over, backed by large organizations like ACORN and SEIU, and thousands of smaller organizations to give the illusion that the public as a whole is behind this bill.  The day before the legislation was introduced the Chairman of the FCC recived a letter from 40 such groups.  The language used is chilling:

“These network neutrality rules are needed for people of color and low income individuals to be creators of Internet content that is relevant to their communities, not just consumers of content that is profitable for big cable and phone companies.”

“the signers of this letter would like nothing more than for our communities to earn the title of “bandwidth hogs.” …using the Internet to create and distribute content that allows us to control our own image”

“It is already a challenge for people of color and low income to gain access to capital to start or advance their own businesses. We see the Internet as an opportunity to level the economic playing field”

“Similarly, without government intervention requiring non-discrimination rules in housing, credit and banking…where would people of color and low income be today?

“The decisions made by the FCC will determine whether our communications system can be used by champions of civil rights to advance economic equality, democratic participation, and self-determination for people that have long been disadvantaged and discriminated against.”
 

This is the same game we have seen plaid over and over again by this administration with the help of his “Community Organizers”.  Many for these groups are part of the Apollo Alliance who openly admit and brag about writing the Stimulus bill that was shoved down our thoughts back in the spring.  Many were involved in Cap and trade which looms on the horizon, after passing the House this summer.  Many have played a key roll in National Heathcare in the face of the majority of the American people rejecting it completely.  This bill however is far more sinister if it is played out to its ultimate goal.  This goal is far worse then the billions of dollars that will be stolen and redistributed to people with no legitimate right to it.  Far worse then the acquisition of massive power to be wielded by the Federal Government, and to propaganda machine it will create.  The chilling effect on the last best venue for our freedom of speech will be ripped from us never to return.

“No government ever voluntarily reduces it’s self in size.  Government programs, once lunched never disappear.  Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on Earth.”

In thinking of Net Neutrality and the massive expansion of the FCC, along with expansion of our Federal Government, thanks to the afore mentioned legislation in the last year, I keep hearing the words of President Ronald Reagan.  I leave you with his wisdom:

Read H.R. 3458