E Pluribus Unum

(cross posted at Daily Kos)

Now, the telcos want to add another layer of control: theirs. They want to be able to control whose Internet traffic gets preference and whose does not. They want to remove the "obstacle" of Net Neutrality.

Over one hundred years ago, John D. Rockefeller tried this when he owned the oil companies AND the railroads. He killed his competition by dictating which of his competitors could use his rail network to deliver their goods -- and which ones could not. This tactic was struck down in the courts.

But now the telcos could do the same thing if pending legislation gets through the Congress and is signed by the president.

Still don't get it? Still don't understand what's at stake?

Craig ("craigslist") Newmark put it another way: Imagine you're ordering a pizza. You call Papa John's Pizza on your cellphone and you hear the following message: "AT&T's preferred pizza vendor is Domino's. Press one to connect to Domino's now. If you would still like to order from Papa John's, please hold for three minutes while Domino's guaranteed orders are placed."

Farfetched? Not really -- there is nothing in the proposed legislation that would stop the telcos from doing this. Oh sure, they'll promise not to. But if that's so, why won't they agree to put it into the law?

The following video was shown on PBS and was part of a program produced by Bill Moyers.

The Senate version of the telecommunications bill -- sponsored by Sen. Ted ["Tubes"] Stevens of Alaska -- will not come to the floor for a vote before the Nov. 7 midterm election. But we must guard against any attempt by Congress to sneak through this legislation during the post-election "lame-duck" session.

I will keep you posted on this situation as it develops.

(HT to Cory)