Net Neutrality In Peril?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing some new rules on Internet traffic that would allow broadband providers to charge companies a premium for access to their fastest lanes, with plans to put forth its rules on Thursday. The proposal marks the FCC's third attempt at enforcing "net neutrality"—the concept that all Internet traffic should be treated equally.  However, under the newly proposed regulations, the rules will allow giant media conglomerates to buy faster access, leaving everyone else in the slow lane. If passed, these extreme proposals would mean there will be a “fast lane” for companies that can pay, and a “slow lane” for those who cannot.  It would be equivalent to corporate giants having high speed broadband while us poor suckers without deep pockets would be stuck with 'dial up' speeds.  

The overwhelming and near universal reactions from ordinary users had been anger.  Anger at the FCC for kowtowing to corporate greed and high dollar lobbyists while giving nary a thought to the average American web heads who would be unable to pay the exorbitant fees necessary to gain the fastest speeds.  Basically destroying the even playing field we have now.  In fact some have even suggested that an ISP who also provides content could give priority to their own content while shuffling everyone else's content to the slow side.  Doesnt' sound very neutral to me, does it to you?  

Josh Tabish writing for OpenMedia.ca explains the crux of the problem:

[“The problem here is a straightforward one: the FCC thinks their job is to coddle industry, rather than act in the interests of everyday citizens. Sadly, this shouldn’t come as a total surprise, given the FCC’s history of hiring ex-Telecom lobbyists into leadership positions, and sending their former employees on to high profile gigs as telecom and industry shills.”

Don’t believe me? You can even read all about the “ecstatic” welcome current Chairman Tom Wheeler received from Big Telecom when he was awarded the position last year.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to check out a number of great articles written on this week’s FCC announcement, including an excellent piece from the founding father of the term “Net Neutrality”, Columbia Law Professor and former Free Press chair Tim Wu writing in the New Yorker:

• New net neutrality rules coming from FCC. CBC.
• It's time for the FCC to stand up for Americans instead of ruining the internet. The Verge.
• Goodbye, Net Neutrality; Hello, Net Discrimination. The New Yorker.
• All is not Lost: Young people care about Net Neutrality. The Techtainian.

There’s still hope. The FCC doesn’t make its final decision on these extreme proposals until May 15th. Your OpenMedia team will be following this issue closely, and we will keep you posted on how you can get involved. In the meantime, please sign on to our Declaration of Internet Freedom, and take a stand for a free and equal playing field online.]

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This week on Saturday at the Symphony, we continue our exploration of some of the 106 symphonies composed by Franz Joseph Haydn.   In today's play list you will hear Symphonies Number 70, 71 and 72 as performed by the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra under the baton of Adam Fischer.  The symphonies were recorded in 1997 & 1998 at the Haydnsaal, Esterházy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria.  You may also hear The Academy of Ancient Music & Christopher Hogwood's performance of Haydn's Symphony Number 52 recorded in July 1993 at Studio 1, Abbey Road, London, England over on my tumblr.

Then to celebrate the weekend there is the enticingly homo-erotic collection of lust worthy young men who are all Naked or Nearly So for your visual appreciation on display below the play list.  For additional inspiration and some 'good clean fun', check out the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for sharing a part of your weekend with me, see you again on Monday for another week of Music, Men & More!  Until next time as always, Enjoy!