Congressional Democrats Attempt to Sell the Internet

by publius

As I've noted before, it's nothing short of a miracle that the FCC has come out so strongly for open networks.  On its face, it seems to defy the ways of Washington -- and public choice theory in particular.  The FCC's action wasn't the result of lobbying by monied interest groups.  It was a combination of committed efforts by public interest organizations with the (historically contingent) support of the Obama administration.

If the fate of the Internet were up to Congress, they would try to sell it to AT&T.  In fact, they're trying to do that as we speak.  And I'm talking only about the Democrats.

Earlier this week, seventy-two Democrats -- seventy of whom took money from Internet Service Providers like AT&T and Comcasat -- wrote a letter to the FCC criticizing openness requirements.  The gritty populist Blue Dogs were, of course, well-represented.  But what's disappointing is how many members of the Congressional Black Caucus signed on (including Rep. Lee, my own Representative -- who has inspired my first "press inquiry" to a congressional office). 

This isn't terribly surprising -- the Internet Service Providers are a powerful, well-financed lobby with literally a century of experience lobbying Congress and its committees.  Open networks are, by contrast, being pushed for largely by underfunded public interest organizations and activist groups.  Internet companies have provided some help, but most of it has been after-the-fact cheerleading.  They're not actively pushing much.

So let's hope Chairman Genachowski isn't bullied by this effort.  And if one of your Representatives signed this letter (pdf), call their press office and ask them for a statement why the interests of AT&T are more important than the open Internet.

Comments

[Julian]

How did you come up with "literally a century of experience lobbying Congress and its committees?" I think there's something going over my head.

[publius]

AT&T has been lobbying Congress since the turn of last century. And they, to borrow from the Matrix's Architect, exceedingly efficient at it

[publius]

To be more precise, the institutional expertise gathered over decades didn't magically disappeared in the early 1980s. It filtered through to the Bells, and has now filtered through to Vz and AT&T.

They're very good at it.

[nous]

And we already know that the ISPs are perfectly happy to sell the public down the river given the way they pulled out of their objections to the DMCA after getting their safe haven provision in place.

[Daniel]

Barbara Lee's name isn't on that letter. Sheila Jackson Lee is

[Daniel]

haha, you didn't say Barbara. My bad.

[A.J.]

Bill Foster's name's on it. You'd think someone whose career was launched with a lot of help from the netroots would know better.

[Smelzer]

For once I think I agree with you on something.

[publius]

Progress! :)