Principia Discordia > Aneristic Illusions
Random News Stories
Thurnez Isa:
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/282006g.asp
Year In Review: 'Net Neutrality' a Must for Most Christian
Christian broadcasters are concerned about legislation that could make it tougher for the public to access their websites. Recent action by a House committee would seem to allay some of those fears.
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a bill that would allow broadband network operators to offer streamlined access to websites that pay them extra for a higher level of service. Frank Wright, president of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), says such an arrangement would put many nonprofit radio stations at a disadvantage.
"The telephone companies and cable companies that control access to the Internet are talking about creating kind of a better level of service for those who are willing to pay for it," Wright explains, "and everyone else sort of gets what's left over."
Broadband Internet providers such as Verizon and AT&T have been lobbying for a sort of "fast lane" on the web that would be reserved for video and other high-priority content. But last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill [PDF] that would require such providers to abide by strict "Net neutrality" principles -- that is, operate their networks in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Wright obviously sees merit to such a move. "A system of Internet control that shows favoritism to one group over another would probably disadvantage non-profits like religious broadcasters," he says. "We don't have the revenue streams that would help us pay for a better level of Internet service that they're talking about."
Despite being opposed by several Republicans on the committee, the Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006 (H.R. 5417) was passed out of committee on a 20-13 vote. Committee chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, a congressman from Wisconsin, said the measure "will provide an insurance policy for Internet users against being harmed by broadband network operators abusing their market power to discriminate against content and service providers."
The president of the Christian Coalition of America is asking Congress to preserve what supporters of what has come to be known as "net neutrality." Roberta Combs says Sensenbrenner and others on the committee have stood up for continued freedom on the Internet.
"We urge Congress to move aggressively to save the Internet -- and allow ideas rather than money to control what Americans can access on the Worldwide Web," she says. Congress, says the Christian Coalition, must make sure the Internet remains accessible to all Americans, rich or poor.
Cain:
Wow, they must be deluded. Sometimes, Christian paranoia actually works in peoples favour. Amazing.
Thurnez Isa:
I made this thread cause i notice sometimes we have 2/3 threads of the same newstories
ie. planet eris, james brown
this way we have a thread to dump it all on
Cain:
Point. But now we also have non-absentee mods who will actually merge stories too. Still, this can be good for random shiz.
Thurnez Isa:
--- Quote from: Cain on December 29, 2006, 04:13:22 pm ---Wow, they must be deluded.  Sometimes, Christian paranoia actually works in peoples favour.  Amazing.
--- End quote ---
yes
this could make some really strange bed fellows
--- Quote ---and allow ideas rather than money to control what Americans can access on the Worldwide Web
--- End quote ---
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