Internet Freedom Act: John McCain Sells Out To The Telecom Industry

In my post Republicans Oppose FCC Policy Changes Intended To Ensure Net Neutrality I told you that several Republicans, led by Senator John Ensign (whose parents bribed his mistress' family to protect little Johnnie), were opposing proposed revisions to FCC policy intended to ensure net neutrality.  The policy changes would ensure that:

• Network operators cannot prevent users from accessing the lawful Internet content, applications, and services of their choice, nor can they prohibit users from attaching non-harmful devices to the network.
• Providers of broadband Internet access must be transparent about their network management practices.

In that post I wondered what motive(s) these Republicans have for opposing policy that ensures that the Internet remains an open platform to which everyone has equal right and access.  I said then that opposing net neutrality is like allowing the bigger, richer oxygen-breather greater access and control over the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Simply opposing the policy changes wasn't adequate so Senator John McCain has proposed the Internet Freedom Act, which would allow internet service providers to give preferred handling to their own web content by slowing or blocking their competitor's access to other content on the Internet.

At what price has John McCain sold domination of the Internet to the telecom industry?  As of March 2008 McCain had received more than $750,000 from the telecom industry and its lobbyists.  In the last two years McCain has received a total of $894,000 from the telecom industry.  More than any other member of Congress.

One year ago John McCain admitted without hesitation that he knew nothing about the Internet and e-mailing and relied completely on others, especially his wife to handle Internet communications.  Not long after that admission one of McCain's senior policy advisors told reporters, "You're looking at the miracle that John McCain helped to create" while holding up his personal Blackberry.  But McCain didn't stop there!  With "tutoring" from the telecom lobbyists McCain is now the GOP's lead legislator for Internet matters.  It's amazing what one can achieve with a lot of money in such a short time when ethics don't get in the way.