Cable lobbyists strong-arm Congresscritters into signing anti-Net Neutrality petition

Robbo sez, "Cable lobbyists are trying to get Congress Critters to sign off on a letter from the industry exhorting FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to NOT reclassify broadband Internet as a Title II common carrier service. It is, of course, complete horseshit and now (even after all the public outcry over Wheeler's patronizing positioning over his own proposed rules) the weasels of the
National Cable and Telecommunications Association are looking to
get their Congressional lackeys to block any reasonable response to
the public will.

"It's a shame members of Congress don't read more than their bank
balance – if they'd read anything from Susan Crawford they'd know
the rational recourse would be for the FCC to declare the net a
common carrier. But with Wheeler at the helm and with the NCTA
dicks priming the pump from the shadows we're likely to see further
douche maneuvering on the Hill."

Here’s the full text of the cable industry’s letter:

The Honorable Thomas E. Wheeler

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th St, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20554

May __, 2014

Dear Chairman Wheeler:

I have been following with interest your ongoing proceeding on how best to re-implement the “net neutrality” rules. Like you, I believe it is critical that we maintain a free and open Internet, where consumers are not blocked from accessing the websites of their choice and providers do not use their control over the last mile to stifle competition.

As you consider how best to move forward to achieve these goals, I write to share my concerns with reports that the Commission may be considering achieving these goals by reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a “Title II” common carrier service. In the years that broadband service has been subjected to relatively little regulation, investment and deployment have flourished and broadband competition has increased, all to the benefit of consumers and the American economy.

While we still have further to go to ensure that the benefits of broadband reach all Americans, I am concerned that opening the door to subjecting broadband service to a wide array of regulatory burdens and restrictions, including imposing Title II, might halt this progress. I respectfully urge you to consider the effect that regressing to a Title II approach might have on private companies’ ability to attract capital and their continued incentives to invest and innovate, as well as the potentially negative impact on job creation that might result from any reduction in funding or investment. I share your goals of keeping the Internet open to all. I do not believe that a Title II approach is the best means of achieving this goal for our country.

Thank you for your work on this very important issue.

Sincerely,