In light of the government takeovers of the financial and auto sectors of our economy and the proposed government takeovers of our health care system and energy industry via health care reform and cap-and-trade legislation, what's next you might ask.

What's next is a government takeover of the Internet via President Obama's "net neutrality" regulation policy. See "Preserve Internet Freedom -- Beware Obama's Net Neutrality" for more details and several video clips.

Here's a 1-minute video clip of President Obama taking a back seat to no one in his commitment to net neutrality:

Here's a 1-minute video clip of constitutionalist Congressman Ron Paul who opposes net neutrality regulation of the Internet based on his opposition to government regulation and his support for our free market economy:

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to launch a formal discussion of proposed "net neutrality" regulations for the Internet. It is expected to issue a final rule sometime in early 2010. Although it is not clear whether congressional legislation would be required to enable the FCC to regulate the Internet by enforcing its rules on net neutrality, the misleadingly titled "Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009" (H.R. 3458) has already been introduced on July 31 to assert the government's authority to enforce net neutrality on the Internet.

In a surprising move yesterday, Senator John McCain announced the introduction of his new bill S. 1836, "The Internet Freedom Act of 2009," which would block the FCC's net neutrality rules in order to prevent "a government takeover" of the Internet.

Although McCain's bill includes a provision that clearly prohibits the FCC from regulating the Internet:

In General- The Federal Communications Commission shall not propose, promulgate, or issue any regulations regarding the Internet or IP-enabled services.

McCain's bill also provides many exceptions to this general prohibition, which serve to give the FCC plenty of rationales for regulating the Internet anyway, thus seriously weakening the bill's general prohibition against regulating the Internet:

Exception- The limitation set forth in this section shall not apply to any regulations that the Commission determines necessary--
(1) to prevent damage to the national security of the United States;
(2) to ensure the public safety;
(3) to assist or facilitate any actions taken by a Federal or State law enforcement agency; or
(4) to ensure the solvency of the Universal Service Fund established under section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934.

Click here to take immediate action to send an email to your representative and senators in opposition to a government takeover of the Internet via the FCC's proposed "net neutrality" rules. Let them know that you oppose H.R. 3458, which authorizes the government to regulate the Internet on the basis of net neutrality, and support the main provision of Senator McCain's new Senate bill, S. 1836: "In General- The Federal Communications Commission shall not propose, promulgate, or issue any regulations regarding the Internet or IP-enabled services."

What this issue of net neutrality comes down to is this: Congress is not authorized by the Constitution to regulate the Internet. Furthermore, if we do allow the government to regulate the Internet to enforce net neutrality, you can bet that sooner or later this regulatory power would be extended to regulate the content of Internet communications. The First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech...."

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RP said:

	... John McCain, Senior Thief from Arizona, has proposed a bill in the Federal Den of Thieves to block burglars from looking under the socks in the top right drawer of your dresser. Don't you feel safer already?
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October 23, 2009
Votes: +2

Judy Stahl said:

... John McCain looks for popular issues that tap into the public's disgust which will boost his image. His McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform legislation was one of these. It increased government regulation over campaign rhetoric and seriously trampled on First Amendment rights of freedom of speech. His "Internet Freedom Act of 2009" against the FCC's attempt to regulate "Internet neutrality" seems strange in view of his lack of interest in our First Amendment rights in the campaign finance bill. Regardless of his motivation, we need to support this bill.

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October 24, 2009
Votes: +0

RP said:

... Exactly what is in "The Internet Freedom Act of 2009"? If ALL it does is block the FCC from implementing net neutrality rules, I have no problem with it. I don't trust McCain. Therefore, I would want to know for sure that it doesn't purpose something in place of FCC regulations. The best strategy at this point is to OPPOSE H.R. 3458. That can be done at: http://www.votervoice.net/Core.aspx?AID=972&Screen=alert&IssueId=19642

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October 25, 2009
Votes: +1