Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 4:15am

“The American Bishops” Have NOT Weighed In On Net Neutrality

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.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
9 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
MikeS
MikeS
Friday, December 1, AD 2017 11:11am

“Here’s hoping a few principled Democrats will start loudly condemning the nasty people of the Resistance.”
Unfortunately, I’m not holding my breath.

Michael Dowd
Michael Dowd
Saturday, December 2, AD 2017 3:22am

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.

Penguins Fan
Penguins Fan
Saturday, December 2, AD 2017 10:47am

“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.

DMR
DMR
Saturday, December 2, AD 2017 11:15am

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.

Donald Link
Wednesday, December 6, AD 2017 11:56am

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.

Peter Aiello
Thursday, December 7, AD 2017 4:48am

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

polistra
Thursday, December 7, AD 2017 10:23am

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.

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top