The FCC is expected to enact net neutrality regulations later today, and officials are currently holding hearings on the order, which the Times reports would "broadly create two classes of Internet access, one for fixed-line providers and the other for the wireless Net. The proposed rules of the online road would prevent fixed-line broadband providers like Comcast and Qwest from blocking access to sites and applications. The rules, however, would allow wireless companies more latitude in putting limits on access to services and applications." And yet, CNN wonders why no one outside of the FCC has seen the final draft of the order. Officials say it won't be published until "several days" after the vote, but what do you expect—it's just not technologically possible to share this information with the world!
You can watch the FCC hearing stream live on Save the Internet, which also has a running stream of comments about the order, which has outraged free speech advocates. Senator Al Franken calls this "the most important free speech issue of our time" and warns that "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."
Washington Post tech policy reporter Cecilia Kang has been live-tweeting the hearings; she notes, "Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak here at FCC net neutrality meeting. Did he hear that provision that allows blocking in app stores?" And Free Press Managing Director Craig Aaron says, "FCC Chairman Genachowski ignored President Obama's promise to the American people to take a 'back seat to no one' on Net Neutrality. He ignored the 2 million voices who petitioned for real Net Neutrality and the hundreds who came to public hearings across the country to ask him to protect the open Internet. And he ignored policymakers who urged him to protect consumers and maintain the Internet as a platform for innovation. It’s unfortunate that the only voices he chose to listen to were those coming from the very industry he’s charged with overseeing."
Meanwhile, you know what's really terrifying? Over in merry old England, the government is trying to ban porn from the Internet, which would render it meaningless.
