[ExI] internet regulation as a public utility

[Adrian Tymes]

On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 6:14 PM, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:

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> *From:* extropy-chat [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Adrian Tymes
> *Sent:* Monday, November 10, 2014 5:32 PM
> *To:* ExI chat list
> *Subject:* Re: [ExI] internet regulation as a public utility
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> On Nov 10, 2014 5:07 PM, "spike" <spike66 at att.net> wrote:
> >> I read up on it and I come away with little doubt: any attempt at
> regulation is a bad thing.  It sets up too many risks for violation of free
> speech enforced by the IRS.
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> >...at least target the right agency, please!  The IRS wouldn't be
> regulating this, but the FCC, and they are directly about regulating the
> things that speech happens via…
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> The IRS is the universal enforcement arm.
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That is factually incorrect.  If nothing else, there are other enforcement
arms - starting with the military.

I understand your paranoia, but get your facts straight.  Otherwise, you
have as much credibility on this issue as a flat Earther or a creationist.

Ja, and consider the alternative: the FCC gets to make the rules, and they
start seeing a bit too much criticism of the government on this email
server, but more specifically, a bit too much criticism of the FCC.  We are
talking about giving them the power to stop it?  Could they do it by going
to the moderator and saying “We can let you continue without an IRS audit,
if you get rid of these five troublemakers.”
No, they could not.  Especially since not all Internet operations are
US-based, or anywhere the IRS can get to.

Corporations could, and would.  And they don't lean toward letting just
anyone speak - their default is to give slow, preferably no, service to
anyone not paying them.  The FCC at least defaults toward "voice for
everybody".
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