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Should the FCC Mandate “Net Neutrality” and Regulate Internet Fair Play?

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The Internet provides so many economic and quality of life benefits, and we can only imagine what is on the horizon. Given that consumers already enjoy a free and open Internet today in the absence of new government regulations, greater government involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Internet will only stifle the robust investment and innovation that is creating jobs and moving our economy forward. Let’s let the current pro-growth environment continue and not risk the future of Internet innovation and economic progress at this pivotal time.

Tom Amontree of DC 2:15PM November 23, 2009

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written on one piece of paper. It is well known that it works and has for over two-hundred plus years. To regulate things we write legislation now with thousands of pages. That is not being simple that is being STUPID! The government doesn't get things right or produce one single to service but to enslave if you let it. Time to kick this BIG government incumbent crowd out. It's time to return to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness without Gov. interference

Jeff of WI 2:03PM November 23, 2009

Don't care what bias USNews has. By definition all corporations are are entities which try to control their markets. They have to show profits every quarter or get punished by the 'free' market. Regulation will interfere with this. Thus they don't want it. Current regulation is antiquated,,primitive, and futile and so is current enforcement. Don;t care how ineffective you think the government is, I like social security and medicare. They are some of the most successful ideas yet invented. Millions of people get their checks on time every month. And don't forget the military. Mission accomplished.
The only protection an individual has against the predatory corporations(by definition all corporations)is something equally large such as the US government Any individual who believes any company has your best interest at heart is an idiot. Any person who believes we will ever know how any company is screwing us is probably a litigation lawyer. All companies lie. All companies hide what they are doing. All companies will take whatever shortcuts necessary to make a profit. All companies will screw their customers and lie if caught. It's the American Way. Especially companies that go around saying stupid things like 'Quality is Job 1.'. More like 'Quality is Lie 1'
Only the government is big enough to protect the American people. It's about time we remembered what it's there for.

Ann L Deltuy of MA 6:33PM November 21, 2009

"Go to wikipedia and research US News"
Because Wikipedia is so factual that even high-schoolers will use it as a source for essays? Please, don't whip out Wikipedia as a source and expect people to take you seriously. It's a neat, fun concept, good for some background information - but never use it as a source for facts - it's editable by anyone.
Look, ALL major media are corporatist entities. They exist to make money. I'm okay with that. It doesn't mean a state-run media is better.
US News & World Report is accused of being a liberal mouthpiece as often as it is being accused of being a conservative one. To me, that says they're one of the more balanced voices out there.
No, people oppose the FCC because it has a long history of a heavy-handed approach. Reasonable people both on the Left and on the Right, don't trust them.
Of course, the poll IS just a web poll. There's no methodology in place to ensure it is a representative sample of society as a whole, nor is is offered as such - it's more for fun that fact. There's no need to skew it to a "no" vote. It's a non-scientific poll.
So don't panic; they're not challenging Gallup polls - OOOPS! Another corporatist entity. Just can't get away from these guys, huh?

Rich of CO 6:53PM November 20, 2009

US News has a conservative political view point. Go to wikipedia and research US News! They are just opposing the FCC because they are in bed with corporate america. That poll can SO EASILY be manipulated like Glen Beck did with newsmax or whatever it was to produce a higher No vote than it actually is! With programming you can manipulate EVERYTHING behinds the scenes!!!! Don't trust this!

Savage of TX 6:15PM November 20, 2009

Once you give the government ANY level of responsibility, they'll come back with an Internet tax to "pay for it".
Talk about stifling innovation!
Anytime you hear "government" and "Web" or "Internet", just say "NO."
Besides - which government? Routers are all over the world. If YouTube needs more bandwidth to display videos, do you think they'll stick around the US when they aren't given preferential treatment by ISPs? No way! They'll set up offshore.

Rich of CO 5:03PM November 20, 2009

The problem is that consumers have no power. For example, Comcast can arbitrarily limit service to sites a consumer may need to use, and the consumer probably will not even know. The market is hardly "free" unless people actually have a choice and know the rules of the games being played.

Russ of MI 3:07PM November 20, 2009

This is simply a question of fairness. Markets are not known for fairness or deference to the public interest. This issue is simple. ISPs should be regulated and not allowed to arbitrarily speed up or slow down internet traffic to any sites. All legitimate traffic should be subject to the same rules, not some corporation's decision.

JB of MI 1:21PM November 20, 2009

The question is - who sets the rules, the Government or the marketplace? The Soviet Union had an answer to this but history proved their choice to be wrong. If the market decides we generally know the criteria it will use. If the Government decides, what criteria will it use? No matter who decides, someone won't think it is fair.

Brad of TX 1:03PM November 20, 2009