November 6, 2008
An Obama Administration May Favor Net Neutrality
The turnout and results of the election indicate that a great number of people are probably happily anticipating an Obama presidency. But some industries are wringing their hands over the policies and regulations that might come out of the new White House.
Right there in the hot seat with Big Coal and Wall Street financial firms: the telecommunications industry. According to a recent story from Bloomberg, Obama has plans for them.
“AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp. will probably face new Internet rules backed by Google Inc. under Barack Obama’s administration, and find it more difficult to persuade the government to approve acquisitions,” Bloomberg reports.
“The Democratic president-elect’s top technology priorities include ‘network neutrality’ policies that would bar Internet-service providers from accepting payments to make some Web sites work faster than others.”
Higher-education institutions, with help from groups like Educause, have been big supporters of net-neutrality issues. One of their main opponents on Capitol Hill was Sen. Ted Stevens, the disgraced Alaska Republican who was chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
My, how times change.
The story also notes that consolidation in the telecommunication industry will slow under an Obama administration and that “companies such as Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker, and Microsoft, the biggest software company, may push Obama for more spending on science research … and immigration reform so foreign graduate students at U.S. universities aren’t forced to return home.” —Scott Carlson
Posted on Thursday November 6, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Thanks to miserable, fawning coverage of Obama by the mainstream media, no one ever insisted on answers to such questions. We’ve just elected a guy that most observers now admit, gee, we don’t know what he’ll do. Talk about a pig in a poke. Lots of charisma and no promises beyond “hope and change”
— fg Nov 6, 08:31 PM #
fg –
1. Get over it. You just come across as a bitter sore loser.
2. Fox News reported today that the McCain campaign was frustrated with Palin because she did not know that Africa was a continent and not a country. Seriously.
— J Nov 6, 09:23 PM #
I think it was pretty well known before the election that Obama was going to support net neutrality and set up a cap and trade system that would affect the coal industry. That’s why a lot of folks voted for him.
— eg Nov 7, 07:35 AM #
To the original commenter…the term you intended to write is actually pig in a polk. Clearly demonstrates your lack of preciseness with regard to education and, I suspect, politics as well.
— Donny Brazile Nov 7, 07:54 AM #
While I don’t agree with fg’s comments, the librarian in me can’t let Mr. Brazile’s inccorrect assumptions pass.
The correct phrase is “a pig in a poke.” A poke is a sack.
For a discussion of “a pig in a poke” and “to let the cat out of the bag,” go to http://www.bartleby.com/81/13246.html
— LC Nov 7, 08:28 AM #
Donny Brazile, clearly your inaccurate correction demonstrates your lack of preciseness with regard to education and I, suspect politics as well. Check it out: pig-in-a-poke is a term originating in the middle ages for a confidence trick.
— Patton Nov 7, 08:30 AM #
What the heck is a “polk?” The 11th President of the United States (1845-1849)? If so, why would we put a pig in him?
— John Nov 7, 08:43 AM #
Donny, so typical of self-annoited, self-appointed experts. So typical, and the chances are great that you will not learn from this incident. Let’s hope Obama is a fast learner; he has so much to learn!
— Ed Nov 7, 09:14 AM #
To #7: Because President Polk loved pork!
— Eugene Nov 7, 09:22 AM #
I did not vote for Obama! He was elected. I hope that I am wrong, after all he will be president for the next term. Lets give him a chance, if he is wrong, we can send him packing in 4 years. Look what happened to Jimmy Carter. He became a better ex-president than president.
— Joe the Screwed Nov 7, 09:27 AM #
All Democratic candidates in the primaries stated their support of Net Neutrality. Obama has also already sponsored bills against media consolidation. Those were some of the reasons I supported him.
— me 2 Nov 7, 10:47 AM #
I agree with #10, Joe, that we should give Obama a fair chance. He is president of all of us, and regardless of my political views I wish him well.
— Ed Nov 7, 11:12 AM #
I agree completely with “fg.” Donny, you are a fine example of people who like to criticize but have no idea what they are talking about. Geez! “pig in a polk?” for crying out loud! LC is absolutely correct, it’s “poke” which is a sack or bag. DUH.
— Deb Nov 7, 12:16 PM #
fg = Sore Loserman ;)
— JL Nov 7, 01:55 PM #
Interesting, indeed. This movement is long in coming. It’s important —- and fair, nonetheless —- that we are all traveling the same speed on the Internet.
— Rodger D. Johnson Nov 7, 02:09 PM #
Palin did not know Africa was a continent and not a country. She also did not know what three countries were part of NAFTA. Here’s the Fox News report –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWZHTJsR4Bc
— J Nov 7, 08:11 PM #
Yikes. Crow is best served warm. It is poke. Thanks librarian. So sorry. I learned something today.
Donny
— db Dec 3, 02:08 PM #