To the FCC: On Net Neutrality

I strongly support net neutrality backed by Title 2 oversight of ISPs.

1. It is impossible, ultimately, to maintain freedom of the press if the systems which distribute the news may be manipulated or even completely blocked by any single interest, especially those of the owners of the systems of distribution. This directly conflicts with the First Amendment right of freedom of the press.

2. Personal communication is also a basic freedom, as basic as air. Allowing the carriers of personal communication to manipulate that communication is itself an invasion of privacy, and a violation of Fourth Amendment “right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.”

3. Finally, a biased internet facilitates contracts in restraint of trade on the part of internet service providers and other telecommunications carriers. Such contracts are against both common and statute law, as this freedom is a basis of capitalism in the United States. Without net neutrality, internet carriers will be allowed to collect rents from anyone who wishes to establish a new internet business, and the carriers themselves can easily quash any direct competition.

The firms which most strongly oppose net neutrality are those with a sordid history of manipulating the internet for profit or politics. In justice, they should be refused permission to do so further.

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If you want to add your own comments in support of Net Neutrality and are willing to do so publicly, go to GoFCCYourself.com, which will take you directly to the comments page. You will be asked to give your name and address.
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©2017 Randolph M. Fritz. Used by permission.