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[ NNSquad ] Comcast likes the FCC Broadband Plan (and other reactions)


Comcast likes the FCC Broadband Plan (and other reactions)

http://bit.ly/9xWxw3  (Broadcasting & Cable)

The FCC Proposes, and Congress Disposes.  In other words,
assuming that anything Congress actually does in these
regards will necessarily resemble the FCC Plan, is, uh,
highly problematic.

A number of people having problems accessing the associated site have
asked me to quote my comments from the NewsFactor article.  Here's the
related text:

...

 "While activists for greater online access praise the FCC's interest
  in the availability of more spectrum, some see more regulation as
  potentially onerous and fear the program will be bogged down in
  Congress in the same fashion as President Barack Obama's health-care
  initiatives."

  A Contentious Issue

 "Getting part of the spectrum back from TV broadcasters is going to
  be very contentious and presumably lead to court action for many
  years," said Lauren Weinstein, cofounder of People for Internet
  Responsibility and an activist with several similar grassroots
  groups. "Anything Congress does in this area that is not trivial is
  going to be challenged."

 "Everyone agrees we need better access to broadband, just as everyone
  agrees we need better health care," Weinstein said. "But when you
  get down to the nitty-gritty ... you will find results hinging on
  specific issues of comparatively narrow focus."

  Once taxpayer funds are involved, Weinstein added, there will likely
  be significant pressure on legislators to control content, just as
  pro-life activists fought to prevent public funding of abortions.

  "People will say how can you spend taxpayer dollars on porn or on
   [unauthorized] downloading of movies?" he predicted.

   ...

--Lauren--
NNSquad Moderator