From Crisis:
Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington, New Hampshire (who is chairman of the Communications Committee of the USCCB) has announced his opposition to efforts by the current Republican FCC chairman to overturn federal regulation of Internet service providers imposed by the Obama administration back in 2015.
This announcement has been reported as a position of “the bishops,” but it most certainly is not. The announcement speaks to the problematic tendency of USCCB committees to speak out on way too many issues, perhaps on issues where they have no competence. And it also speaks to the resultant confusion among the laity about whether they have to take this announcement to heart as faithful Catholics, or whether than can reject it out of hand.
The article has a decent summary of what “Net Neutrality” involves, and flatly states what it is– declaring that the internet is a public utility, like land-lines and electricity. Seeing as the Phone Company is just slightly below the Post Office in terms of customer service, and that the temporary regulations they’re trying to remove were part of a power-grab by the same guys who weaponized the IRS, this is a really bad thing even before you look at specifics.
Big points to the author for being aware that “net neutrality” is being funded by big companies– even as the videos against it declare that is who they’re fighting.
The Wall Street Journal (link will paywall, but you can search the quote and find the article) points to the behavior of the subsidized and possibly paid protesters, who are part of the self-styled “resistance.” Search for phrases like “with activists putting up cardboard signs that ask if this is the world he wants his children to “inherit.” One sign says, “They will come to know the truth. Dad murdered democracy in cold blood.”” and All Mr. Pai and his colleagues are doing is restoring the freedom that existed until 2015 and allowed the Internet to become a jewel of the U.S. economy and a benefit to the world. But regardless of one’s views on the best way to encourage investment in broadband networks, he doesn’t deserve this appalling treatment. Here’s hoping a few principled Democrats will start loudly condemning the nasty people of the Resistance.
“Here’s hoping a few principled Democrats will start loudly condemning the nasty people of the Resistance.”
Unfortunately, I’m not holding my breath.
Nor am I, sadly.
This is a confusing issue, i.e., net neutrality (small caps) is achieved by voting against Net Neutrality (large caps). One thing for sure, if this is backed by large media companies it must be bad.
“Net Neutrality” was a power grab by the Obumbler Regime and its Silicon Valley syncophants. Google, etc. pushed hard for it, which means it isn’t good.
The USCCB is best ignored by the Catholic faithful. Mr. McClarey would ban me if I posted what I really think of that body.
This is a very confusing issue. In the past eight years, I have learned one thing for sure about Obama and his minions. Anything he brought to the table, every thing he touched or proposed was only to end democracy and our way of life. I never felt that he has anything but contempt for our countryour Constitution, and her people. So, using this as my yardstick, NO on net neutrality. Once rules are put on the Internet, it will never stop. As Obama proved, some people can’t bear their freedoms.
One of the things I look for is if the supposed problem being solved had ever happened in any sort of threatening way.
Answer…heck, no, the closest is throttling over X data used, and THAT went over poorly.
The whole issue will probably be irrelevant in a few years as technology is rapidly proceeding to the point where the internet will accommodate all comers. The good bishop, acting no doubt outside his competence, is not aware of the finer points of science. Let us hope this deficiency is not also manifested in the area of religion.
Because of the bishops speaking out on too many issues, they are being tuned out. They are diminishing their control of the message. Many Catholics are coming to appreciate their own place in the Body of Christ
Net neutrality is central planning. It removes the normal pricing mechanism that rations a resource neutrally. When everyone has to pay the same price, the provider has to ration the resource SOMEHOW. And since the introduction of Net Neutrality, we’re SEEING how Google and Facebook do their rationing. By beliefs, not by price. It always works that way.