[opendtv] Re: The video here explains net neutrality perfectly part 2
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 10:12:44 -0400
> On May 9, 2014, at 7:22 PM, "Manfredi, Albert E"
> <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=216&doc_id=1322296&;
>
> I agree entirely with what she describes.
She is a very effective communicator. One might wonder if she is just
passionate, or if she was paid to put the net neutrality video together. What
is rather obvious, however, is just how corrupt our political/regulatory system
has become.
There is no apparent concern that a former lobbyist for the cable industry is
now in charge of the hen house. The "fix" errrrrrr fox is now protecting us
chickens....
>
> However, what I'm not convinced about is her solution. Classifying broadband
> as a telecommunications service will burden it with all manner of additional
> requirements, so that close to half of the monthly bill will become taxes.
> Like telephone.
Why cry wolf now Bert? We've been telling you for years that the politicians
bought into the "natural monopoly" scam a century ago. It's only natural that
the courts will steer this thing towards Title 2 regulation and create a "fast
lane," from the consumer to local, state and federal treasuries.
Working in another "regulated industry," and fighting a battle in the Florida
legislature this year has opened my eyes once again to the economic realities
of politics.
I have been studying the issues that led to prohibition and it's eventual
repeal. I just watched a PBS series - Prohibition. The country flirted with
prohibition for more than 100 years - most of the country was dry before the
Civil War. After the Civil War we went on a binge. At one point, the Federal
Excise tax on alcohol was the largest source of revenue to the Feds. By the
early teens (1913-14), a large chunk of the country was dry again, and the
temperance and woman's rights movements were in full bloom. But the real force
behind the 18th Amendment was another guy named Wheeler...
Wayne Bidwell Wheeler was an American attorney and prohibitionist. His most
famous contribution to the prohibition movement was making the Anti-Saloon
league the first organized political pressure group in the United States.
Wheeler could be called the father of modern political lobbying. He understood
that the only way to have effective prohibition would be to shut down alcohol
at the national level; as long as you could go to the next county or state to
buy booze, prohibition could not work. But there was a bigger problem...
The federal government was too dependent on the revenues from the alcohol
excise tax; if prohibition were to succeed at the national level, the excise
tax revenues would need to be replaced with another tax source. So Wheeler
hooked up with the progressive movement of that era, which was pushing for
socialism and income redistribution.
Together they helped the politicians pass the 16th Amendment, creating the
Income Tax.
Several years later the 18th Amendment was approved by Congress, and quickly
ratified by the states. Not quite as quickly as the states ratified the 21st
Amendment, ending prohibition and giving the States control of alcohol
distribution and what has become a huge source of tax revenues. The state now
collect more than $6 billion a year on alcohol; the Feds collect about $10
billion.
Meanwhile, collections on telecommunications excise taxes dipped below $1
Billion in 2012, as taxes on traditional wireline and long distance revenues
have declined.
OMG! What are the politicians going to do?
Simple. Regulate the Internet as a telecommunications service and set the
imperative to bring high speed broadband to every home in America!
http://www.broadband.gov/
>
> One thing for sure, though. MVPDs offering ISP service, while technically a
> slam dunk, can't help but have a conflict of interest.
Conflict of interest?
Surely you jest.
This is exactly the interest that Wheeler is seeking to protect.
Brace yourself Bert. I'm going to amaze you!
You are absolutely correct that IPTV, delivered via the Internet will replace
the current "fast lanes" for television - cable and DBS.
Controlling the new fast lane is an imperative!
Regards
Craig
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