FCC on Path to Most Dangerous Expansion of Federal Power

From The Progress & Freedom Foundation --

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2010
CONTACT: Mike Wendy
(202) 969-2957

Downes Paper Says FCC Reclassification Effort

Is Far More Than Meets the Eye

FCC on Path to Most Dangerous Expansion of Federal Power

Since Civil War

WASHINGTON D.C. — A growing chorus of experts agree that the FCC's broadband "Third Way" efforts stand on shaky legal ground. The most contentious of these proposals — the reclassification of broadband Internet access into a telephone-like service — has, for obvious reasons, drawn the lion's share of focus and headlines. But, as Larry Downes notes in his new paper, "The Seven Deadly Sins of Title II Reclassification (NOI Remix)," proposals hidden deep within the "Third Way" proposal create a ticking time bomb, one which should be approached cautiously, if at all.

Downes, the author of several best-selling books on innovation, writes: "Beyond the hubris of reclassification, there are seven surprises buried in the 116 paragraphs of the NOI—its seven deadly sins," states the author. "In many cases the Commission is merely asking questions," Downes adds, "[b]ut the questions hint at a much broader—indeed, overwhelming—regulatory agenda that goes beyond Net Neutrality and the FCC's attempt at reversal by fiat of the Comcast decision through reclassification."

What are these seven deadly sins?

• Pride: As the FCC attempts to define what services would be subjected to reclassification, the agency runs the risk of both under- and over-inclusion, which could harm consumers, network operators, and content and applications providers.

• Lust: The agency is reaching out for additional powers beyond its reclassification proposals — including an effort to wrest privacy enforcement powers from the Federal Trade Commission and putting itself in charge of cybersecurity for homeland security.

• Anger: The "Third Way" may dramatically expand the scope of federal wiretapping laws, requiring law enforcement "back doors" for a wide range of products and services.

• Gluttony: Reclassifying broadband opens the door to state and local government regulation, which would overwhelm Internet access with a deluge of conflicting, and innovation-killing, laws, rules and new consumer taxes.

• Sloth: As the FCC looks for a legal basis to defend reclassification, basic activities — such as caching, searching, and browsing — may for the first time be included in the category of services subject to "common carrier" regulation.

• Vanity: Though wireless networks face greater challenges from the broadband Internet than wireline networks, the FCC seems poised to impose more, not less, regulation on wireless broadband.

• Greed: Reclassification of broadband services could vastly expand the contribution base for the Universal Service Fund, adding new consumer fees while supersizing this important, but exceedingly wasteful, program.

"Reclassifying broadband Internet to apply common carrier rules designed for a telephone monopoly that has long since disappeared seems foolish enough on its own," concludes Downes. "Add these additional seven deadly sins to the mix, however, and the FCC has proposed perhaps the most dangerous expansion of federal power since the end of the Civil War."

The paper may be viewed here. Larry Downes is available for comment. Please contact Mike Wendy at mwendy@pff.org for more information.

John Kasich releases "Jobs Ohio" Plan (Video)

Please share your thoughts....

From John Kasich --

John Kasich’s top priority is to revive Ohio’s economy and create jobs. With almost 400,000 Ohioans out of work on Ted Strickland’s watch, we know that Ohio’s current strategies aren’t working.

Though once a cutting-edge organization, the Ohio Department of Development has become bogged down with bureaucracy and programs that are not related to economic development. A change is needed.

Ohio’s economic development efforts must be re-aligned to make job creation and economic development a priority and must be rooted in the belief that economic health comes from a strong innovative, flexible private sector, not from government.

A New, Private Sector Economic Development Corporation

As governor, John Kasich will replace Ohio’s government-run economic development functions with JobsOhio, a new not-for-profit corporation which will report to the governor and oversee the state’s efforts to revive the state’s economy and create jobs. A private-sector approach to economic development will be more responsive to the needs of business.

• A board of directors comprised of CEOs will be an important asset for selling the state at the highest levels;

• An expert staff focused solely on economic development will give businesses confidence that their needs will be met and help rebuild Ohio’s reputation as a good place for business;

• The increased accountability of a private corporation will produce better results.

Freeing Ohio’s economic development efforts from their current bureaucratic mindset and shifting them to a new private sector corporation will allow Ohio to more aggressively help existing businesses grow and expand and attract new businesses to Ohio as well.

To read the complete Jobs Ohio Plan click here.

Disclaimer: This posting should not in anyway be taken as our endorsement or implied support for John Kasich. This posting is only meant to serve educational purposes for our members and the general voting public.

Fix Ohio Now - John Kasich (Video)

From Fix Ohio Now --

Disclaimer: This posting should not in anyway be taken as our endorsement or implied support for John Kasich. This posting is only meant to serve educational purposes for our members and the general voting public.

ACORN finally Defunded! Now how about OCHLA?

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a district court judge made a mistake by slapping an injunction on a congressional order to stop the flow of federal funds to Obama's nuts at ACORN. The original and misguided judicial decision interfered with the 2009 Protect Taxpayers from ACORN Act & congressional authority to control how government revenues are raised and spent.

Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns, sponsor of the Protect Taxpayers from ACORN Act, said the appeals court ruling affirms that access to federal funds is "a privilege, not a right." Johanns points out in his press release that ACORN has been under investigation for voter fraud in several states, more than 70 ACORN officials have already been convicted of fraud and since 1994, ACORN has received $53 million in federal funding according to a report by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Now we need to defund the Ohio Commission on Hispanic Latino Affairs (OCHLA). OCHLA is an Ohio state agency created in 1977 to advise the Governor, General Assembly and other state agencies on the needs of Spanish-speaking citizens. OCHLA, receiving in excess of $500,000 from the State of OH, has routinely operated as an ACORN type group by actively lobbying the state legislature to provide favorable treatment for illegal aliens in Ohio.

A complaint against OCHLA has been filed with Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles, but Charles is doing his best to ignore the complaint in attempts to shield Gov. Strickland in the upcoming 2010 elections.

It would also be a safe bet that OCHLA has most likely played a hand in the Justice Dept. singling out Cuyahoga County and demanding they print bilingual ballots at an extra cost of $500,00 for the upcoming 2010 elections.

Facing a projected $8 billion hole in our state budget, Gov. Strickland should be ashamed for his continued support & funding of this ACORN for Illegal Immigrants group.

Dennis Kucinich is "Top Socialist" in Ohio

From Tea Party Patriots Facebook (via Gateway Pundit)

The Socialist Party of America announced in their October 2009 newsletter that 70 Congressional democrats currently belong to their caucus. This admission was recently posted on Scribd.com:

American Socialist Voter–

Q: How many members of the U.S. Congress are also members of the DSA?
A: Seventy

Q: How many of the DSA members sit on the Judiciary Committee?
A: Eleven: John Conyers [Chairman of the Judiciary Committee], Tammy Baldwin, Jerrold Nadler, Luis Gutierrez, Melvin Watt, Maxine Waters, Hank Johnson, Steve Cohen, Barbara Lee, Robert Wexler, Linda Sanchez. [there are 23 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee of which eleven, almost half, are now members of the DSA].

Q: Who are these members of 111th Congress?
A: See the listing below

Co-Chairs
Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) Hon. Lynn Woolsey (CA-06)

Vice Chairs
Hon. Diane Watson (CA-33)
Hon. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18)
Hon. Mazie Hirono (HI-02)
Hon. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)

-----------------------------------------

Yes, this would be the same Dennis Kucinich that recently stated he is a profession liberal and President Obama hasn't gone far enough to the left with his progressive policies! Even with this declaration, Kucinich, in a tough race against challenger Peter J. Corrigan, has also stated he will not run (err -- "stumble") for President again.

It should also be noted, fearing backlash from the seniors & other voters in District 10 over his support for President Obama's Health Care Reform Bill, Kucinich has refused to host any Town Hall meetings during this recess.

The other socialist snakes rounding out the Cadre of Ohio Komrades is Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) & Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). Reports are also stating that the darling of the OH Democrats, Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) is also a secret socialist. Kilroy is facing former State Senator Steve Stivers.

Kucinich get's a "Left-Handed" Slap by the White House

After a public slapping by the White House in which WH Press Secretary Robert Bob Gibbs stated --

"....the "professional left" would only be happy "when we have Canadian healthcare and we've eliminated the Pentagon." He added, "They wouldn't be satisfied if Dennis Kucinich was president."

-- Dennis Kucinich, the out of touch with his constituents & up for reelection Congressman, takes issue with Gibbs attacking the professional liberals in this country and claims that though they, the professional liberals, DO support President Obama's progressive agenda and shredding of the Constitution, they want him to move even more to the left....

Kucinich responded, "I think that Mr. Gibbs and the White House need to realize that liberals support the president, but the criticism is really a measure of hopes that have not been realized."

The main issue at hand is the nation's persistently high unemployment levels, Kucinich said. "Until the administration effectively addresses that, those of us who call ourselves liberals are going to continue to insist we should be talking about a full employment economy," he said.

Kucinich said that the government can still play a transformational role during a tough economic period, as it did under President Franklin Roosevelt -- if President Obama provides the leadership to make it happen.

Liberals' dissatisfaction with Mr. Obama stems from "the intention to make sure [their goals] get realized while we have a president we do want to support," Kucinich said. Boston.Com

Pledging his support for President Obama, and still thankful for his souvenir bag of Presidential Peanuts on his Air Force One ride in exchange for his support of the health care bill, Kucinich will not challenge PBO for the party nomination in 2012.

As we can see, Dennis Kucinich is still out of touch with the people he is supposed to represent -- the voters in District 10 -- and is more concerned in representing his professional liberal friends in Hollywood.

In his reelection bid, Kucinich is facing Peter Corrigan (http://corriganforcongress.com/).

Corrigan faces an uphill funding battle and the question in this race is will District 10 voters allow their vote to be bought by the big money professional liberals in Hollywood that routinely fund Kucinich's campaign coffers?

Senate Unanimously Passes Bi-Partisan Border Security Bill

Senator Chuck Schumer, unanimously passes a $600 million border-security bill authorizing an additional 1,500 Border Agents to protect our border....

From New Patriot Journal via WSJ --

On Thursday, the chamber approved a $600 million border-security bill in 31 minutes, from opening gavel to final passage. While their colleagues were enjoying a summer recess, Sen. Chuck Schumer flew in from New York and Sen. Ben Cardin drove his Pontiac from Baltimore to represent the entire Senate in its cavernous chamber.

Mr. Schumer delivered the opening (and closing) speech, while Mr. Cardin sat in the presiding official's chair. Mr. Schumer told his fellow Democrat that he hoped the border bill, which provides 1,500 additional border agents, would "clear the path" for talks on revamping the nation's immigration rules.

"I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in this important task," he added, looking around at 99 empty seats.

The New York Democrat proposed passing the bill by "unanimous consent," meaning it would become law as long as no one objected. Mr. Cardin asked the empty room if anyone did, and, not surprisingly, response came there none. Just like that, the bill was on its way to the president's desk. More....

I believe this may be the first piece of legislation the Administration has passed with no opposition. Congratulations -- on their first bi-partisan bill!