Categories
Domestic issues Election 2008 McCain Obama Politics The Media The Web and Technology

‘The Fairness Doctrine for the Internet’ is a Conservative Strawman


[FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell at a Tech Policy Summit. Picture by TechPolicySummit used under a Creative Commons license.]

[digg-reddit-me]With some new information, I’m adding to the timeline I created to demonstrate the significance of FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell’s comments on net neutrality (which is also a useful link to check out if you’re unfamiliar with the Fairness Doctrine) a few days ago.

The situation:

The Politics:

Obama is in favor of net neutrality.

McCain thinks it’s all confusing ((His exact quote is: “I go back and forth on the issue.)) and claims he doesn’t know what his position is (though he has made definitive statements opposing it.)

The Democrats are generally in favor of net neutrality.

It has not been a big issue for Republicans, but a few have come out against it (see Ted Stevens.)  The conservative base hates the Fairness Doctrine though with a passion.

Since the idea occured to them: Big internet companies want to charge more for customers to access certain internet sites, or to allow certain sites to have priority and to slow down others, and in general to assert control over internet content.

October 2007: The Progress and Freedom Foundation, a think tank funded by companies opposed to net neutrality, publishes a report explaining that a good way to attack net neutrality is to call it “The Fairness Doctrine for the Internet (PDF).”

Spring 2008: Internet providers begin experiments with tiered pricing and other anti-net-neutrality practices.

After McCain secures Republican nomination: He begins to rake in large sums of money from AT&T, the US Telecom Association, Verizon, and other companies opposing net neutrality.

June 2008: A Republican Congressmen introduces a bill to outlaw the Fairness Doctrine (which has been illegal since the 1980s).

Later in June 2008: A conservative reporter publishes a story which alleges that Nancy Pelosi is considering reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.

August 12, 2008: FCC Commissioner, Robert McDowell, says that net neutrality could lead to the regulation of political speech on the internet, as if it’s the Fairness Doctrine for the internet.

The Drudge Report publicizes the speech with the scare headline:

FCC Commissioner: Return of 'Fairness Doctrine' Could Control Web Content...

Now: Conservative talk radio hosts are talking about how net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine for the internet. (I heard Steve Marlsburg, a bete noir of this blog, who is so old he probably still calls the internet the world wide web ranting on this subject on his show yesterday.) Conservative bloggers are jumping on the bandwagon.

Next week, McCain plans on releasing the details of his Technology Policy which is reported to be “market-oriented.”

Then for my pessimistic speculation

These conservatives begin to raise the issue in attacks on Obama, liberals, etcetera. Progressives and liberals defend net neutrality.

And then: Independent-minded people and journalists who haven’t been paying attention to this issue finally notice now that conflicts are arising.  Journalists cover the issue giving “both sides” and independents throw up their hands, unable to pick a side.

And: Conservatives mount a campaign attacking Democrats.  Even those conservatives who support net neutrality are silent because they’re happy for any issue on which they can hit Democrats and which they can use to fund raise.

Finally, January 2009: After the election, Democrats attempt to pass net neutrality legislation.  A grass-roots structure has been created to oppose them, and many Republicans have publicly committed to oppose it.  An obvious policy choice that should have bipartisan support becomes a struggle to enact.

(On a hopeful note, I think this is a fight the Democrats and supporters of the internet can win.)

This is how public opinion is manipulated.  This is how our political system is corrupted as the obvious and clear policy is shrouded in spin and the consensus is replaced by deliberate polarization.

Matt Stoller of OpenLeft is more sanguine about the effects of this campaign to tar net neutrality:

Now, the question is not substantive, it’s whether this campaign will work to persuade people that up is down, that black is white. I don’t think it will.

But what I think Stoller is missing is that this propaganda campaign does not seem directed to the public at large, but at conservative activists.  The Fairness Doctrine is not something that gets the blood of the average American boiling.  But it does evoke a Pavlovian response among conservative activists and right-wing radio listeners.

And although these groups are not large enough to force their way, they are large enough to derail the political conversation and make it harder to enact this obvious policy. Even if some do realize they are being manipulated, many are willing to go along with the party-line and take the necessary positions to gain power.

All of which points to one thing: without Barack Obama as president, net neutrality may not have the necessary support.

384 replies on “‘The Fairness Doctrine for the Internet’ is a Conservative Strawman”

seoaddress

nike free run 4.0 v3 maschio nero verde nike air max 95 schwarz blau san antonio spurs new era nba shadow turn 2 adjustable cap adidas ace 15.1 tout noir nike zoom winflo 3 wei脽 gr眉n yellow low top converse

resekipman

air jordan 10 hvid and sort polo ralph lauren dark blu customfit nike free 5.0 dam忙nd sort femmes nike free run 3 5.0 corail denver broncos case keenum mens elite orange nike jersey 4 nfl vapor untouchable home mens nike dallas cowboys 4 dak prescott g…

leodinhdesign

fendi scarf sale canada nobis vest clothing new bebe moncler jacket xs womens superstar adidas black and white gread h35posg hermes birkin 35cm crocodile stripes leather in flame with gold lebron 12 elite lion

kalrakis

p煤rpura and oro converse air jordan retro 5 gris verde the north face gore tex supreme online gray and rosa nike roshe orange and sort mizuno volleyballe sko nike air max bw enamel vert

nike air force 1 low mens black

nike free 5.0 mujer negro blanco le coq sportif m忙nd hvid bl氓 r酶d adidas forum mid bianca verde 01 adidas originals zx flux adv trainers in grigio authentic montreal canadiens jersey coach handbag madison collection

jimmy choo studded flats

nike air max tn red and black oakley razor blade heritage collection sunglasses mens basketball mulberry evelina satchel york nike sb blazer low for sale canada goose kensington sale burberry scarf saks ltd

white ralph lauren pullover hoodie

parajumpers gobi damen braun australia hermes carriage scarf authentic hermes mens belt for sale prada messenger bag hardware christian louboutin boots thigh high jump mackage isabel shearling coat hangers ltd

mjchronicles

burberry beige tie fendi scarf 2016 nobis merideth vs abby nike lebron friday 13 links of london vermeil bracelet orange purple mens nike roshe run shoes

jamiecirillo

nike kobe icon oro arancia lsu baseball cap femmes nike roshe run rouge gris femmes air jordan retro 12 blanc vert herren asics gel quantum 360 schwarz adidas neo campus hvid gul

ilankocaeli

air jordan future low schwarz rot nike hypervenom red and white michael michael kors jet set bag mennns adidas yeezy boost 350 gr氓 nike flyknit 4.0 nero mens salomon speed cross 3 orange grey

actuelvet

hombres nike internationalist jcrd weave naranja dark azul bianca rosa femminile adidas nmd runner scarpe nike tiempo legend 5 black and white ray ban new wayfarer 55mm review hommes nike dunk high light deep gris femmes air max 2016 violet noir dark g…

laconiaoil

mujeres nike kyrie 4 naranja nike huarache pastel lyser酶d rosso and bianca adidas scarpe adidas zx 750 marina militare gituttio 28 josh hawkins jerseys online coach bleecker logo charm medium red satchels

sftfinance

nike air force 1 puerto rico sko coach borough handbags ebay zone adidas zx 750 lovers red yellow green black olives nike air flyknit max 2015 green versace belt mackage messenger help ipad

enlighthouse

air jordan 5 stealth for vendita mennns nike air huarache svart gr酶nn adidas originals forum mid leopard print chaussures ladies lebron soldier 9 gr眉n machine kvinders nike internationalist gr氓 lyser酶d nike hyperrev 2016 gr氓 movie

clandessdiner

nike air max 95 bb womens running shoes curry 2 white pink blue jordan 6 pink white womens pink nike air force 1 trainer red nike air max 2017 kpu ii pink yellow yeezy boost 350 gray and orange hoodie

talkwithgirl

nike roshe kvinner lilla nike internationalist gituttio verde nike air pegasus 92 verde blanco adidas eqt support adv hvid kvinners adidas tubular r酶d adidas gazelle light gris mujeres

adidas gazelle boost gull svart

hombres nike flyknit racer gris oro herre asics gel kayano 21 guld bl氓 mennns nike air max 90 vt bl氓 gr酶nn womens nike zoom pegasus 32 pink blue femminile nike cortez tutti rosso nike roshe two gelb blau

adidas porsche design trainers sale listing

bon march茅 under armour clutchfit drive femmes or black grey mens nike hyperdunk 2014 low shoes nike air max 97 premium tape qs silver bullet band gold silver mens nike zoom pegasus 31 shoes pink black womens air jordan son of mars shoes white pink men…

mabarrel

air jordan retro 10 bl氓 mint gr酶nn adidas damian lillard oro grigio mens nike roshe run speckle grey yellow mujeres asics gel kayano 21 rojo nike lunar gato ii blanco naranja north face venture jacket rei

mandydugan

nike air max tn femminile gituttio nero nike lebron 12 dam盲nner grau rosa nike zoom pegasus 34 sky blue yellow rob gronkowski home jersey kvinners nike free tr fit gul gr酶nn bags dillards coach legacy leather swingpack at dillards

witchstock

pink black mens nike lunar tempo shoes air jordan retro 4 bambini blu arancia pittsburgh steelers script snapback adidas zx 750 trainers mitchell trubisky mens elite navy blue jersey nike nfl chicago bears usa flag fashion home 10 adidas stars 23 esa l…

isnowbot

nike free 5.0 black and white womens parajumpers kodiak coat 2017 burberry animal print cashmere scarf hermes jypsiere colors prada backpack bag repair louboutin kitten heels zip

Thank you for this article! It is very informative for me and I want to share it on my facebook page. I will even buy some shares from this site https://soclikes.com/ for my facebook post

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: