Republican Party
The Republican Party is one of the two current major parties in the USA. It is also commonly referred to as the GOP. It was founded on March 20, 1854 in Ripon, WI. The Republican Party is based around the Conservative ideology for the most part. This ideology supports traditional attitudes when asked how the government should go through with an issue. Political theorist Corey Robin sums Conservatism up to be "general defense of social and economic inequality." They support high military spending, less federal government regulation. crime punishment, and so on.
The fight over Net Neutrality in the Republican Party is a split opinion, yet most of the members of the party majorly oppose the plan. There were fifteen votes opposing the repeal of the plan and Representative Mike Coffman was one of them. He states:
"The Internet has been and remains a transformative tool, and I am concerned that any action you may take to alter the rules under which it functions may well have significant unanticipated negative consequences. Therefore, I urge you to delay your upcoming vote and provide Congress with the opportunity to hold hearings on the net neutrality issue and to pass permanent open Internet legislation."
Although there had only been fifteen votes against the repeal, the strong voices stood out and the fact that these Republicans opposed the views of the majority in their party creates a possibility of "bipartisan action to repair the damage" according to writer Devin Coldewey.
Another Representative used Twitter to express their view of Net Neutrality. Jeff Fortenberry states:
"I recently urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to preserve the framework of net neutrality. The upcoming decision should not allow for corporate monopolistic domination, whether internet service provider delivery or content creators."
Susan Collins was the first Republican in Congress to oppose the FCC's repeal of Net Neutrality. She has not provided an official statement like other government officials of the Republican Party that held opposing views.
The majority of Republicans viewed the repeal to be a good idea, as the government placed unnecessary regulation on the Internet; whereas it should be free and unregulated. Republican FCC member, Brendan Carr, provided a statement towards the repealing of Net Neutrality before voting took place. He states:
"Prior to the FCC’s 2015 decision, consumers and innovators alike benefited from a free and open Internet. This was not because the government imposed utility-style regulation. It didn’t. This was not because the FCC had a rule regulating “Internet conduct.” It had none."
With the majority of Republicans supporting the repeal, they were a major contribution in the repealing of the plan.
Citations
Coldewey, Devin. “More Republicans in Congress criticize FCC’s net neutrality plan.” TechCrunch, TechCrunch, 12 Dec. 2017, techcrunch.com/2017/12/12/more-republicans-in-congress-criticize-fccs-net-neutrality-plan/.
Fortenberry, Jeff. “I recently urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to preserve the framework of net neutrality. The upcoming decision should not allow for corporate monopolistic domination, whether internet service provider delivery or content creators. #NetNeutraility.” Twitter, Twitter, 11 Dec. 2017, twitter.com/JeffFortenberry/status/940364207270301697.
Borgerding, Kat. “Read the Republican FCC members' statements for repealing net neutrality.” Recode, Recode, 14 Dec. 2017, www.recode.net/2017/12/14/16777356/full-transcript-ajit-pai-brendan-carr-fcc-statements-net-neutrality-repeal.
The Republican Party is one of the two current major parties in the USA. It is also commonly referred to as the GOP. It was founded on March 20, 1854 in Ripon, WI. The Republican Party is based around the Conservative ideology for the most part. This ideology supports traditional attitudes when asked how the government should go through with an issue. Political theorist Corey Robin sums Conservatism up to be "general defense of social and economic inequality." They support high military spending, less federal government regulation. crime punishment, and so on.
The fight over Net Neutrality in the Republican Party is a split opinion, yet most of the members of the party majorly oppose the plan. There were fifteen votes opposing the repeal of the plan and Representative Mike Coffman was one of them. He states:
"The Internet has been and remains a transformative tool, and I am concerned that any action you may take to alter the rules under which it functions may well have significant unanticipated negative consequences. Therefore, I urge you to delay your upcoming vote and provide Congress with the opportunity to hold hearings on the net neutrality issue and to pass permanent open Internet legislation."
Although there had only been fifteen votes against the repeal, the strong voices stood out and the fact that these Republicans opposed the views of the majority in their party creates a possibility of "bipartisan action to repair the damage" according to writer Devin Coldewey.
Another Representative used Twitter to express their view of Net Neutrality. Jeff Fortenberry states:
"I recently urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to preserve the framework of net neutrality. The upcoming decision should not allow for corporate monopolistic domination, whether internet service provider delivery or content creators."
Susan Collins was the first Republican in Congress to oppose the FCC's repeal of Net Neutrality. She has not provided an official statement like other government officials of the Republican Party that held opposing views.
The majority of Republicans viewed the repeal to be a good idea, as the government placed unnecessary regulation on the Internet; whereas it should be free and unregulated. Republican FCC member, Brendan Carr, provided a statement towards the repealing of Net Neutrality before voting took place. He states:
"Prior to the FCC’s 2015 decision, consumers and innovators alike benefited from a free and open Internet. This was not because the government imposed utility-style regulation. It didn’t. This was not because the FCC had a rule regulating “Internet conduct.” It had none."
With the majority of Republicans supporting the repeal, they were a major contribution in the repealing of the plan.
Citations
Coldewey, Devin. “More Republicans in Congress criticize FCC’s net neutrality plan.” TechCrunch, TechCrunch, 12 Dec. 2017, techcrunch.com/2017/12/12/more-republicans-in-congress-criticize-fccs-net-neutrality-plan/.
Fortenberry, Jeff. “I recently urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to preserve the framework of net neutrality. The upcoming decision should not allow for corporate monopolistic domination, whether internet service provider delivery or content creators. #NetNeutraility.” Twitter, Twitter, 11 Dec. 2017, twitter.com/JeffFortenberry/status/940364207270301697.
Borgerding, Kat. “Read the Republican FCC members' statements for repealing net neutrality.” Recode, Recode, 14 Dec. 2017, www.recode.net/2017/12/14/16777356/full-transcript-ajit-pai-brendan-carr-fcc-statements-net-neutrality-repeal.
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party is recognized as being one of the two major political parties that dominate American politics. Known as being the oldest party that is still in existence today, its roots began to sprout as early as 1792, although originally referred to as being the Democratic-Republican Party. They are typically aligned to more liberal views as opposed to their conservative competitor. This entails that they are more open to change in government, and don't lean so heavily towards tradition that it never budges. As for specifics, Democrats tend to support less military spending, more federal regulation, rehabilitation over punishment when it comes to crime, and more.
When it comes to the Net Neutrality issue, Democrats are in favor of keeping Net Neutrality, or in other words, resent the repeal, as taken from the Democratic F.C.C. Commissioners, who lead the commission beside their Republican colleagues. Through "condensed and edited" interviews that follow, two officials have spoken up about said resentment through this outlet.
Jessica Rosenworcel has said herself that "we have a mess on our hands" through an interview. She goes on to speak in a more in depth perspective on the issue as an official and what she has taken from others:
"I’m not alone with these concerns. Everyone from the creator of the world wide web to religious leaders to governors and mayors of big cities and small towns to musicians to actors and actresses to entrepreneurs and academics and activists has registered their upset and anger. They are reeling at how this agency could make this kind of mistake. They are wondering how it could be so tone deaf. And they are justifiably concerned that just a few unelected officials could make such vast and far-reaching decisions about the future of the internet."
Another commissioner, Mignon Clyburn, has stated through an interview conducted by the same group of individuals, utilizing more repetitive and striking language. Through rhetorical questions, she asks her audience to contemplate the repeal.
"I have been asking myself repeatedly, why the majority is so singularly-focused on overturning these wildly-popular rules? Is it simply because they felt that the 2015 Net Neutrality order, which threw out over 700 rules and dispensed with more than 25 provisions, was too heavy-handed? Is this a ploy to create a “need” for legislation where there was none before? Or is it to establish uncertainty where little previously existed?"
Clyburn hits even closer to home for some populations as she ends off her speech with religious aspects as she attacks the F.C.C. Chairman, Ajit Pai, personally.
"Amen to that, Mr. Chairman. Amen to that."
Citations
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Democratic Party." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Jul. 20 1998. Web. Dec. 19 2017.
Kopytoff, Verne. "Democratic FCC Commissioners Railed Against Net Neutrality Repeal. Read Their Statements." Fortune. Time Inc., Dec. 14 2017. Web. Dec 20 2017.
Lecher, Colin. "The FCC's Democratic Commissioners on Net Neutrality Vote: 'We Have a Mess on Our Hands." The Verge. Vox Media, Inc., Dec. 12 2017. Web. Dec 20 2017.
The Democratic Party is recognized as being one of the two major political parties that dominate American politics. Known as being the oldest party that is still in existence today, its roots began to sprout as early as 1792, although originally referred to as being the Democratic-Republican Party. They are typically aligned to more liberal views as opposed to their conservative competitor. This entails that they are more open to change in government, and don't lean so heavily towards tradition that it never budges. As for specifics, Democrats tend to support less military spending, more federal regulation, rehabilitation over punishment when it comes to crime, and more.
When it comes to the Net Neutrality issue, Democrats are in favor of keeping Net Neutrality, or in other words, resent the repeal, as taken from the Democratic F.C.C. Commissioners, who lead the commission beside their Republican colleagues. Through "condensed and edited" interviews that follow, two officials have spoken up about said resentment through this outlet.
Jessica Rosenworcel has said herself that "we have a mess on our hands" through an interview. She goes on to speak in a more in depth perspective on the issue as an official and what she has taken from others:
"I’m not alone with these concerns. Everyone from the creator of the world wide web to religious leaders to governors and mayors of big cities and small towns to musicians to actors and actresses to entrepreneurs and academics and activists has registered their upset and anger. They are reeling at how this agency could make this kind of mistake. They are wondering how it could be so tone deaf. And they are justifiably concerned that just a few unelected officials could make such vast and far-reaching decisions about the future of the internet."
Another commissioner, Mignon Clyburn, has stated through an interview conducted by the same group of individuals, utilizing more repetitive and striking language. Through rhetorical questions, she asks her audience to contemplate the repeal.
"I have been asking myself repeatedly, why the majority is so singularly-focused on overturning these wildly-popular rules? Is it simply because they felt that the 2015 Net Neutrality order, which threw out over 700 rules and dispensed with more than 25 provisions, was too heavy-handed? Is this a ploy to create a “need” for legislation where there was none before? Or is it to establish uncertainty where little previously existed?"
Clyburn hits even closer to home for some populations as she ends off her speech with religious aspects as she attacks the F.C.C. Chairman, Ajit Pai, personally.
"Amen to that, Mr. Chairman. Amen to that."
Citations
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Democratic Party." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Jul. 20 1998. Web. Dec. 19 2017.
Kopytoff, Verne. "Democratic FCC Commissioners Railed Against Net Neutrality Repeal. Read Their Statements." Fortune. Time Inc., Dec. 14 2017. Web. Dec 20 2017.
Lecher, Colin. "The FCC's Democratic Commissioners on Net Neutrality Vote: 'We Have a Mess on Our Hands." The Verge. Vox Media, Inc., Dec. 12 2017. Web. Dec 20 2017.
Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party is one of the major third parties in the US. It was founded by David Nolan on December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, CO. Libertarian beliefs are based on laissez-faire capitalism, little to no government regulation, free markets, complete individual liberties, and so on.
With the FCC's vote to repeal Net Neutrality, service providers are able to charge extra for their users to access specific websites and content. Libertarians that oppose Net Neutrality believe that the source of the issue is not at the state of repeal, but with the local government. If a large Internet service provider were to start charging their clients, then other providers will pop up and claim that they will not charge their users extra. The local government decides which providers a specific area has or not, though.
Other arguments that Libertarians promote when the discussion over Net Neutrality comes up is the fact that these service providers would be charging more money for faster speeds and higher data caps than what were placed before. Libertarian Chris Calton writes:
"If Net Neutrality were to become policy, internet service providers will have to find alternative solutions for allocating bandwidth in an industry now contending with a disrupted price mechanism. Most likely, this would mean charging consumers higher prices for faster speeds than would otherwise be necessary, or placing data caps on home internet, as some service providers have already started to do."
Other Libertarians argue that Net Neutrality violated the First and Fifth Amendment and should not have even existed in the first place. Putting this rule over service providers, "forcing them to transmit messages from content providers that they might not wish to convey, preventing them from transmitting messages they want to convey, prohibiting them from exercising editorial discretion, and generally restricting the mode and content of their communications," according to writer Ilya Shapiro. Network owners are being forced to give network space to content providers. The network's economic value is "diminished" after the regulation "shifts costs to customers, discouraging them from using broadband service."
The Libertarian Party itself posted an article arguing as to why the FCC should remain neutral on the topic of Net Neutrality. The members state:
"These regulations will transform open internet service in to a government commodity with hidden long- term consequences. If the FCC passes these regulations, the policy- driven internet service will be incapable of reacting to market changes; the only response will be an eventual decline in the growth of and investment in the internet companies that currently support these regulations."
Citations
Ryan. “Ditch Net Neutrality Now.” Mises Institute, 12 May 2017, mises.org/blog/ditch-net-neutrality-now.
Shapiro, Ilya. “Net Neutrality Violates the First and Fifth Amendments.” Cato Institute, 25 July 2012, www.cato.org/blog/net-neutrality-violates-first-fifth-amendments.
Staff. “FCC Should Remain Neutral on Net Neutrality.” Libertarian Party, 7 Dec. 2010, www.lp.org/blogs-michelle-fcc-should-remain-neutral-on-net-neutrality/.
The Libertarian Party is one of the major third parties in the US. It was founded by David Nolan on December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, CO. Libertarian beliefs are based on laissez-faire capitalism, little to no government regulation, free markets, complete individual liberties, and so on.
With the FCC's vote to repeal Net Neutrality, service providers are able to charge extra for their users to access specific websites and content. Libertarians that oppose Net Neutrality believe that the source of the issue is not at the state of repeal, but with the local government. If a large Internet service provider were to start charging their clients, then other providers will pop up and claim that they will not charge their users extra. The local government decides which providers a specific area has or not, though.
Other arguments that Libertarians promote when the discussion over Net Neutrality comes up is the fact that these service providers would be charging more money for faster speeds and higher data caps than what were placed before. Libertarian Chris Calton writes:
"If Net Neutrality were to become policy, internet service providers will have to find alternative solutions for allocating bandwidth in an industry now contending with a disrupted price mechanism. Most likely, this would mean charging consumers higher prices for faster speeds than would otherwise be necessary, or placing data caps on home internet, as some service providers have already started to do."
Other Libertarians argue that Net Neutrality violated the First and Fifth Amendment and should not have even existed in the first place. Putting this rule over service providers, "forcing them to transmit messages from content providers that they might not wish to convey, preventing them from transmitting messages they want to convey, prohibiting them from exercising editorial discretion, and generally restricting the mode and content of their communications," according to writer Ilya Shapiro. Network owners are being forced to give network space to content providers. The network's economic value is "diminished" after the regulation "shifts costs to customers, discouraging them from using broadband service."
The Libertarian Party itself posted an article arguing as to why the FCC should remain neutral on the topic of Net Neutrality. The members state:
"These regulations will transform open internet service in to a government commodity with hidden long- term consequences. If the FCC passes these regulations, the policy- driven internet service will be incapable of reacting to market changes; the only response will be an eventual decline in the growth of and investment in the internet companies that currently support these regulations."
Citations
Ryan. “Ditch Net Neutrality Now.” Mises Institute, 12 May 2017, mises.org/blog/ditch-net-neutrality-now.
Shapiro, Ilya. “Net Neutrality Violates the First and Fifth Amendments.” Cato Institute, 25 July 2012, www.cato.org/blog/net-neutrality-violates-first-fifth-amendments.
Staff. “FCC Should Remain Neutral on Net Neutrality.” Libertarian Party, 7 Dec. 2010, www.lp.org/blogs-michelle-fcc-should-remain-neutral-on-net-neutrality/.
Green Party
Although outside of the bounds of America's two major political parties, this third party is considered to be the largest and most significant of its class and can put a substantial dent into elections when it comes to taking votes. Its origins can be traced back to 1984, the first state level Green Party in Maine. It didn't start coming all together until the mid 1990's. Inspiration for the formation in America came from the Green Parties as found in Germany and New Zealand. Their beliefs are more 'green' oriented, meaning that they favor social justice, ecologically sustainability, and economic justice.
On the topic of Net Neutrality, those who belong to the Green Party strongly oppose the repeal and support public ownership of the internet. They argue that should Net Neutrality be repealed, consumers everywhere could be and would be exposed to discrimination via the control of the internet through ISP's with the restricted use and blocking of websites should the oncoming fees be ignored.
As a spokesperson for the Green Party, Andrea Mérida-Cuéllar, the national Co-Chair for the party, as spoken up about the F.C.C.'s recent vote with statements involving the fight for a free and open internet as created through tax-payers' money, indicating that many of those who even utilize the World Wide Web have contributed money to it in some shape or form in the first place.
"It's not enough just to fight for reversal of the FCC's decision. We demand public ownership of services that provide Internet access. The Internet was created with taxpayers' money. We should all be enjoying the benefits of a free and open Internet."
Another national Co-Chair, Chris Blankenhorn, continues on about the constant underlying threat that Net Neutrality faces, no matter if congress overturns the repeal or not. He describes corporate growth and greed that won't ever back down unless something is directly done about it before it keeps using its unlimited chances to repeat these same or similar events.
"Even if it's restored, Net Neutrality will always be in danger as long as the private ISP cartel can purchase influence in Congress and the White House."
Citations
Rensenbrink, John. "Early History of the United States Green Party, 1984-2001." Green Party US. The Green Party of the United States, May 15 2017. Web. Dec. 23 2017.
"Platform." Green Party US. The Green Party of the United States. Web. Dec. 23 2017.
McLarty, Scott. "Green Party Blasts FCC's Repeal of Net Neutrality Rules, Demands Public Ownership of Internet Access." Common Dreams. Common Dreams, Dec. 14 2017. Web. Dec. 27 2017.
Although outside of the bounds of America's two major political parties, this third party is considered to be the largest and most significant of its class and can put a substantial dent into elections when it comes to taking votes. Its origins can be traced back to 1984, the first state level Green Party in Maine. It didn't start coming all together until the mid 1990's. Inspiration for the formation in America came from the Green Parties as found in Germany and New Zealand. Their beliefs are more 'green' oriented, meaning that they favor social justice, ecologically sustainability, and economic justice.
On the topic of Net Neutrality, those who belong to the Green Party strongly oppose the repeal and support public ownership of the internet. They argue that should Net Neutrality be repealed, consumers everywhere could be and would be exposed to discrimination via the control of the internet through ISP's with the restricted use and blocking of websites should the oncoming fees be ignored.
As a spokesperson for the Green Party, Andrea Mérida-Cuéllar, the national Co-Chair for the party, as spoken up about the F.C.C.'s recent vote with statements involving the fight for a free and open internet as created through tax-payers' money, indicating that many of those who even utilize the World Wide Web have contributed money to it in some shape or form in the first place.
"It's not enough just to fight for reversal of the FCC's decision. We demand public ownership of services that provide Internet access. The Internet was created with taxpayers' money. We should all be enjoying the benefits of a free and open Internet."
Another national Co-Chair, Chris Blankenhorn, continues on about the constant underlying threat that Net Neutrality faces, no matter if congress overturns the repeal or not. He describes corporate growth and greed that won't ever back down unless something is directly done about it before it keeps using its unlimited chances to repeat these same or similar events.
"Even if it's restored, Net Neutrality will always be in danger as long as the private ISP cartel can purchase influence in Congress and the White House."
Citations
Rensenbrink, John. "Early History of the United States Green Party, 1984-2001." Green Party US. The Green Party of the United States, May 15 2017. Web. Dec. 23 2017.
"Platform." Green Party US. The Green Party of the United States. Web. Dec. 23 2017.
McLarty, Scott. "Green Party Blasts FCC's Repeal of Net Neutrality Rules, Demands Public Ownership of Internet Access." Common Dreams. Common Dreams, Dec. 14 2017. Web. Dec. 27 2017.