[RTC List] Gated Internet? - FCC action re: Comcast

[Sean McLaughlin]

Folks -

Here's a perspective from Jonathan Rintels at the Center for Creative 
Voices in Media - generally representing creative guilds' 
(Writers/Actors/Director/etc) on the FCC's action this week against 
Comcast regarding their interference with Internet transport of 
BitTorrent and related file sharing services:

______________________________________________________

Following the FCC decision to sanction Comcast for violating the 
Commission’s Network Neutrality principles and interfering with users’ 
rights to access lawful Internet content and use the applications of 
their choice, this statement was issued by Jonathan Rintels, Executive 
Director of the Center for Creative Voices in Media.

The Center for Creative Voices in Media applauds today’s FCC decision to 
protect and promote an open Internet where consumers have the freedom to 
access the lawful Internet content of their choice and use the lawful 
applications of their choice. The FCC today marked an important victory 
in the battle over whether consumers will have the freedom to enjoy the 
full Internet, or whether they will they be restricted to visiting sites 
approved by – or in business with – the cable, telephone, or media 
conglomerate “gatekeeper” that provides broadband Internet access.

Because extreme media consolidation and concentration have eliminated so 
many independent voices and visions from America’s mainstream media, a 
growing number of creative artists now share their video, music, and 
creative visions directly with their audience over the Internet. Today’s 
FCC decision protects these artists from discrimination by broadband 
providers, promoting more independent and diverse voices in our media. 
That benefits creative artists and the American public.

The implications of the ongoing battle over whether the Internet will be 
“open” or “closed” can hardly be overstated. As FCC Commissioner Michael 
J. Copps once observed, “This Internet may be dying. It may be dying 
because entrenched interests are positioning themselves to control the 
Internet’s choke-points and they are lobbying the FCC to aid and abet 
them… We seem to be buying into a warped vision that open networks 
should be replaced by closed networks and that traditional user 
accessibility can be superseded by a new power to discriminate. Let this 
vision prevail and the winners will be entrenched interests with far 
greater power than they have today to design and control the Internet of 
the future.”

Today, the FCC, led by Chairman Kevin J. Martin and Commisioners Copps 
and Jonathan Adelstein, delivered a crucial blow against that “warped 
vision” and in favor of giving all Americans full access to an open and 
non-discriminatory Internet. We salute them.

The Center for Creative Voices in Media is a nonpartisan nonprofit group 
dedicated to preserving free speech, free expression, and independent 
and diverse creative voices in our nation’s media. Members of the Board 
of Advisors of Creative Voices include Warren Beatty, Steven Bochco, 
Peggy Charren, Blake Edwards, Tom Fontana, Sissy Spacek, and other 
Oscar, Emmy, Peabody, Tony, and other award-winning creative artists.

********

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Jonathan Rintels
Center for Creative Voices in Media
202.903.4081 (v)
202.318.9183 (f)
www.creativevoices.us
www.creativevoices.typepad.com (blog)

jonr at creativevoices.us