“AT&T...tiered GoS (Grade of Service) dsl pricing structure...Net Neutrality...stay current and informed about what internet providers are "doing" and what they are "preparing to do".”

Net Neutrality

The hottest internet issue Net Neutrality is back. While AT&T holds strong to their new tiered GoS (Grade of Service) dsl pricing structure in hopes there is no Net Neutrality, politicians will tell you whatever it takes to get your vote.

The following quotes are from 2008 Presidential candidates: "The Internet as we know it does not discriminate among its users. It does not decide who can enter its marketplace and it does not pick which views can be heard and which ones silenced," Clinton said in a January statement announcing her support of the legislation. "It is the embodiment of the fundamental democratic principles upon which our nation has thrived for hundreds of years."

In response to a question about his commitment to network neutrality, Obama said, if elected, he would appoint only pro-network neutrality Federal Communications Commission members. "I want to maintain that basic principle in how the Internet functions and as president I'm going to make sure that is the principle that my FCC commissioners are applying as we move forward," he said.

Furthermore, absent network neutrality laws, Obama said, "You could get much better quality from the Fox News site and you'd be getting rotten service from some mom and pop site. And that, I think, destroys one of the best things about the Internet — which is that there is this incredible equality there."

Only one Republican candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, has publicly stated he supports network neutrality.

Isn't that comforting. All kinds of support is behind Net Neutrality. Does it really matter what is promised, and who does the promising, or who supports it or doesn't? A president can only do the following:

FCC Commissioners

The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The President designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. Only three Commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business. (This info abstracted from the United States FCC .gov web site.)

Politicians promising things they can never guarantee an outcome about should matter to voters. What should matter even more is that we the people stay current and informed about what internet providers are "doing" and what they are "preparing to do".

We need to watch big business like ATT who have the politicians in their pockets and not listen so much to what comes out of their lips. We will also need people, private people, literate people, staying on top of the legislation getting written in DC and reporting it in terms we can all understand.

see "Guide to Net Neutrality" - google help center

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