I mean look at this from a day ago: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/2x1l4e/republicans_to_concede_fcc_to_enforce_net/

This is the top comment there with almost 4k upvotes: LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE EFF AND FFTF HAVE READ AND ANALYZED THE REGULATIONS BEFORE WE CELEBRATE.

I haven't heard annnnnnnnnnnnything from EFF or FFTF. OPEN YOUR MINDS and please educate other Redditors. Thanks.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/02/fcc-votes-net-neutrality-big-win

I'm not throwing this in your face. I'm just pointing out that the EFF did comment on it.

This is a new article! Thanks for sharing. I read it, however, at the bottom of the post they wrote: "The actual order is over 300 pages long, and it’s not widely available yet. Details matter. Watch this space for further analysis when the FCC releases the final order."

That'll be interesting.

What's in it is side dressing. What's happened is that regulatory capture has an agar to grow on now.

Even if there are gaping loopholes in the law?

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wut?

We have to pass these regulations

so we can find out what is in them.

The cynical belly laugh is hard to suppress.

The tremendous stupidity that controls our politics is, if nothing more, quite a source of amusement.

Bring in the clowns!

What's to stop the FCC from monitoring content like they do for radio and tv now?

Nothing. I just think it's hilarious how happy reddit is about this, given that torrenting sites will be the first thing to be shut down.

[deleted]

reddit inc.

If the Federal Government ever legalizes (or even decriminalizes) marijuana (right now bills are being introduced for legalization and taxation of marijuana), that's the day I stop using torrents. The day the Feds relinquish a method of imprisonment is when you know they have another market in mind.

Whoa. Good thinking.

Meh, shit will probably be tied up in the court system (corporations will not like being shut down from the internet for unlawful content).

I think you still have time to torrent the world.

I get your point, but I disagree. In what other area does the government not act on behalf of corporations? This is being sold as some sort of triumph of the people over corporations, yet I will guarantee that corporations wrote the damn law. This is just the last step in the complete takeover of information distribution. Hollywood and the MPAA have probably been smoking cigars and drinking champagne all afternoon. My best guess is, they'll leave it alone until after the next election, extract all the propaganda value they can during the campaign, and starting January 01, 2017, torrenting will become illegal, or at the very least tightly restricted.

TL;DR Two years, tops.

It'd funny, you say you disagree but I see my words coming out of the other end of discussion.

We agree, man.

BRB - torrenting every age-appropriate educational program for my kid now before it's impossible to do so in a year or two.

/s (halfway sarcastic)

Obviously, from my comment, I wasn't implying this will happen overnight.

I think you still have time to torrent the world.

Interpreted as, "This will be tied up in court for years to come." You're right, we do have time, but time is definitely short.

It is certainly shorter today compared to yesterday, based on all of these shenanigans.

Mr Obama is laughing now at all you redditors. This should have been denied by all parties. Watch now what will happen to our "utility" bills.

What is stopping them from shutting them down now ?

Absolutely nothing. I think its very funny that all these bad things that people say the gov't is going to do with the new title 2 rules, are things they can do/now do already.

Broadcast (like radio and TV) requires a license to operate, just like a driver's license- you agree to ground rules and are punished when you don't follow them. The FCC has made no indecation that the internet will be regulated like this, but instead like a utility, like telecom networks.

The FCC has made no indecation that the internet will be regulated like this

So they say. Where have a heard something like this (flat out lies) before? Oh yeah:

If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan

-Obama

We don't know that, the document they passed is not public.

In light of the Title II news, here is how rule making works (not just at the FCC...at all agencies, and most of this is required to work this way by law in those other agencies):

1. Someone comes up with proposed rules (Commissioner Wheeler in this case).

2. The proposed rules are shown to the other Commissioners, and they have some time to study them and make suggestions.

3. The rules (with modifications that were accepted by the proposer) go to a vote.

4. If they pass, they have now become FCC proposed rules, instead of merely (in this case) Wheeler's proposed rules. They have not been adopted as actual rules at this point!

5. They are published as a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM), and the public is given at least 30 days to comment. This will be extended if there are a lot of comments. Last year, the then proposed rules had their comment period extended one or two times because of the high number of comments.

6. The FCC looks at the comments, and then can adopt the rules, start over, or give up.

Right now we are at step 4. There is a lot of misinformation being published trying to make people think that step 3 was the vote to accept the final rules and put them in force.

sources:

http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rulemaking-process-fcc#q6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notice_of_proposed_rulemaking

Thank you for bringing facts to this story. People are freaking out about a normal process. If you don't like what you find, comment about it.

Thank you! Someone pointed me towards this link after I asked why it hasn't been read if it was passed. I appreciate your informative comment, I don't know a lot about how these things work.

This definitely should be a thread all on its own. Too many people freaking out about the misinformation, and its in the thread already.

322 pages.

It keeps changing!

322 is a Skull and Bones reference.

So spooky

2spooky4me

inb4 decency rules apply to the internet now

Everyone say hello to UK-style censorship. But remember, we had to solve an imaginary problem, so it's justified.

imaginary problem? are you serious? ATT charging data caps on internet should be fucking illegal. or are you a corporate shill?

This is my thought too. Their job had nothing to do with content and somehow they now monitor content...so why won't this happen to the internet?

Pretty simple. Tom Wheeler, Pres Obama, and the two other FCC members to vote for, are all democrats. The two no's a republicans. Debates are now being framed so that Republicans=anti-science/tech Dems=Proscience/tech.

Repubs against it? Must be good.

How adorable is this? Someone that still has faith in the two party system.

How does explaining the way america looks at political issues make me a believer in the two party system? Reading comprehension, you need some.

BananaPeel doesn't believe that. BananaPeel is just pointing out how some others see the issue.

If the FCC can control cuss words on air ... could they also use this 'authority' to censor websites etc? Serious question...ELI5?

edit: doesn't the FCC also fine broadcasting networks for certain 'offenses' ...? Could they fine a website now?

random thoughts, felt like sharing...

Well, I heard someone else explain it that the FCC also controls cell phones, but they don't censor those. I would like someone else more knowledgeable to weigh in.

Just skimming through a few expert analysis, the internet is going to be seen as a public utility, like cell towers, power lines, plumbing; private entities can provide different methods of access to it, but cannot interfere with said access by placing certain anti-competitive restrictions on their service.

Plus decency standards are both very vague in how they're enforced but very specific to who they enforce, mainly those who have a license to operate a broadcast from the FCC. Which isps are not the same way telecoms are not.

Source: managed a non-profit radio station for 5 years, fcc regulations are my bitch. (or am I their's!?)

The one thing that throws a wrench in how regulations will actually be interpreted and enforced is the fact that Net Neutrality allegedly allows for the FCC to follow or not follow Title II of the Communications Act at their discretion. Which means they can follow whatever rules they feel like while ignoring the ones they don't feel like adhering to. Right?

I mean I can't trust anyone -- especially a Government entity...

Ugh, I hope there isn't something nefarious going on...

You can't use phones to harass or stalk or to call people who don't want your calls. Cyberbullying fits that description but to hold someone accountable for cyberbullying those we connect with should know who it is talking to them so bullies and stalkers can't hide (caller ID). Internet IDs? I don't know but government regulation is never static and is always and in every case, a slippery slope subject to corporate capture. Except in this case it's corporate born and bred right out of the gate.

They will have a rating system... WebGA for general audiences, WebPG for parental guidance, WebMA for mature audiences...

It's easy to regulate a few thousand channels. Not so much the uncountable amount of websites and content going across the internet.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the major victory was the Title II reclassification. I agree we should see the full document before celebrating, but it does sound like a victory from that.

Agreed.

Because they only know what the television tells them and the television says this is good for you.

It's doubleplus good.

What's the alternative? Allowing ISPs to extort other corporate entities, or their own customers, in some sort of priorities exchange system? Or entire portions of the net going dark due to ISP collaboration to filter the net? All without regulation...

The alternative is to publicly publish the legislation before its voted on.

maybe it's the pendant in me but this wouldn't be legislation but guidelines for regulation, there's no laws going on here just how existing laws will now be officially interprated.

Government by fiat.

Don't let your facts get in the way of a good rant.

Well, yeah, that should be a requirement. I mean, regarding net neutrality. The options are corporate control, or government control influenced by corporate control.

"One guy's holding both puppets."

No matter what this is a win for the big guys. Government who owns corporations. Or vice versa. Don't know which is which any more but they both won today. Sure as hell they have a couple pages in there that are gonna fuck shit up.

It shouldn't be regulated in the first place. Internet has gone far these past 30 years without it.

Now that the big boys have made it big enough to wield influence over lawmakers, they can slam the door on their competition. Internet innovation and growth is hereby stifled. The big boys will be the big boys for the foreseeable future. Stagnation.

Yes, "no" regulation. DeCSS and Napster never happened. Countless thousands of lawsuits used to remove websites, and that's excluding the DMCA abuses, also never happened.

Is there any real-world example of an ISP extorting corporate entities? ISPs shutting off the net? Are there >0 examples of that?

Netflix was forced to pay more so their customers could stream at a normal rate.

Hulu. Lurk moar.

Because they're all idiots.

Shills gonna shill.

So they can get a hand written thank you from Obama.

Simple answer is most redditors are just liberal sheep. Pathetic userbase for the most part.

You know why. They've been told to. The narrative is that this is good, that it is a victory, so the people who believe the narrative follow its outline.

Because Reddit is no more. Can you Digg it?

Because that's what reddit's here for now. To spread the news they want.

"You've won, here's the thank you letter from Obama. Move along now, we'll tidy up the messy and confusing details."

More evidence this website is full of children, and the dumbest people on earth.

I'm sure its fine. You will just have to scan your wrinkle star for biometric identification each time you want to go online. Small price to pay for freedom.

They are circle-jerking because while this is not a war won it is a step in the right direction in a small battle. The main issue was a reclassification, which has gone through one loop which is better than it not being reclassified, so it is a victory. Just a small one. I for one feel everyone is screwed over the next 5 years, in the US anyways. I hope for some kind of social revolution because clearly the democracy you are living in doesn't work. Yes I am no better, Canada sucks too

Because "reddit" is an echo-chamber where a specific narrative is pushed on all major topics and the rest of the ignorant masses generally go along with the groupthink.

How anyone could think giving the FCC control of the internet is a good idea is beyond me, especially without having had a chance to read any of the 300+ pages.

Well, I heard someone else explain it that the FCC also controls cell phones, but they don't censor those. I would like someone else more knowledgeable to weigh in.

I get your point, but I disagree. In what other area does the government not act on behalf of corporations? This is being sold as some sort of triumph of the people over corporations, yet I will guarantee that corporations wrote the damn law. This is just the last step in the complete takeover of information distribution. Hollywood and the MPAA have probably been smoking cigars and drinking champagne all afternoon. My best guess is, they'll leave it alone until after the next election, extract all the propaganda value they can during the campaign, and starting January 01, 2017, torrenting will become illegal, or at the very least tightly restricted.

TL;DR Two years, tops.

They will have a rating system... WebGA for general audiences, WebPG for parental guidance, WebMA for mature audiences...

322 is a Skull and Bones reference.

The tremendous stupidity that controls our politics is, if nothing more, quite a source of amusement.

Bring in the clowns!