Critics of the FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s net neutrality plan are mounting a fierce last-minute pushback as the commission’s Thursday vote approaches, even as supporters are ready to celebrate victory.
In congressional hearings, speeches, op-eds and media interviews the critics are warning of Web price hikes ahead, a drawn-out legal fight and hinting the vote could have long-term negative repercussions for the agency.
“The government will fu*k the Internet up,” billionaire investor Mark Cuban said last week at a Code/Media conference in Laguna Niguel, California.
The critics are targeting not only Wheeler, but President Obama, who they blame for pushing Wheeler into making a controversial choice of regulating Web connections as utilities to bolster the FCC’s ability to fend off any court challenges. Obama has argued that only resorting to utility-era rules gives the agency the legal clout to prevent Internet service providers from creating a fast lane for favored content providers. Critics have argued that the move turns back the clock toward another era of phone regulation and will harm Internet investment and screw up the Web.
While the criticism has been vociferous in Washington, D.C., it hasn’t been quite as strong as that from outside Washington, as with Cuban’s comments.
In Washington, the stepped-up criticism is directed at the net neutrality decision itself, Wheeler’s unwillingness to fully detail his final proposal before the FCC’s vote and President Obama’s support of the plan.
A spokesman for FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, one of the two Republicans opposing the proposal told TheWrap, the commissioner feels the proposal is “President Obama’s Plan.”
“Commissioner Pai strongly believes that the American people should be able to see President Obama’s 332-page plan to regulate the Internet before the FCC’s vote,” said the spokesman. “It is important for consumers to know how President Obama’s plan will raise prices, slow broadband speeds and reduce competition in the marketplace.”
On Monday Pai and the FCC’s other GOP commissioner, Mike O’Reilly urged the commission delay a vote until Wheeler’s final proposal is released publicly.
“With the future of the entire Internet at stake, it is imperative that the FCC get this right,” said the statement.
Republican legislators have scheduled a hearing and speeches and sent letters demanding FCC documents. They’ve also called for Congress to enact legislation to settle the fight.
On Wednesday, the telecom panel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing titled “The Uncertain Future of the Internet.”
“The closer we get to the FCC rubber-stamping President Obama’s Internet grab, the more disturbing it becomes,” said the panel’s chairman Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., in announcing the hearing. “Consumers, innovators and job creators all stand to lose from this misguided approach.”
The full committee citing the net neutrality vote and other FCC actions has demanded that Wheeler turn over all documents about how the FCC chooses what to consider for action and whether to do so in a commission vote or through staff action.
In the Senate, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., has scheduled a talk Thursday hours before the FCC votes to decry the FCC action.
Critics suggest that the stepped-up criticism reflects their belief that the FCC debate won’t end with the FCC vote.
“The FCC vote is only the end of the beginning,” Berin Szoka, president of TechFreedom, a group opposed to the FCC action, told TheWrap. “The next chapter is litigation or legislation. It is a mistake to think it is a done deal.”
Net Neutrality supporters aren’t sitting still, even though they believe Wheeler safely has the three Democratic commissioners on board. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.; Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.; and others all have press conferences scheduled.
On Monday, the Future of Music Coalition sent a letter to Wheeler urging that he move forward. The letter was signed by R.E.M., Death Cab For Cutie, Kathleen Hanna, Jeff & Spencer Tweedy, Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, OK Go, Joe Perry, Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman, Jasiri X, The New Pornographers, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Jeff Mangum & Astra Taylor of Neutral Milk Hotel, Kronos Quartet and others.
Watch Cuban’s comments at the Code/Media conference below or here.
21 Buzziest Streaming Shows: From 'Marco Polo' to 'Transparent' (Photos)
The Amazon Studios original series "Transparent" chronicles the abnormal life of the Pfefferman family once it's revealed that father Mort is transgender. The groundbreaking series won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and Jeffrey Tambor snagged the award for Best Actor in a Television Series for his portrayal of Mort-now-Maura Pfefferman.
Amazon
With Season 2 having premiered in Oct. 2014, Amazon's political comedy "Alpha House" stars John Goodman, Clark Johnson, Matt Molloy, and Mark Consuelos as Republican U.S. Senators living together in Washington, D.C.
Amazon
The first two seasons of Netflix's insanely popular "Orange is the New Black" are ready to binge-watch (if you haven't already), and it's third season will be released in June.
Netflix
Actor and musician Steve Van Zandt stars in "Lilyhammer," the American version of a Norwegian series of the same name. Centering on a New York mobster starting a new life in Norway, all three seasons are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Netflix
Netflix's first original cartoon series, "BoJack Horseman," is a delightfully politically incorrect comedy about a 90s sitcom star who has faded from the spotlight.
Netflix
Another Netflix original, "Hemlock Grove" is a dramatical thriller about a string of murders in the fictional town of Hemlock Grove, and the two men who investigate.
Netflix
"Marco Polo" is Netflix's historical drama about the explorer's early years in the court of Kublai Khan. The show stars Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco Polo and Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan.
Netflix
Netflix streaming gem "House of Cards," stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright as South Carolina Democrat Frank Underwood and his wife, Claire, as they execute ruthless schemes for power in Washington, D.C. The third season is scheduled to premiere in February.
Netflix
Marvel's live-action series "Daredevil" stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio, and follows the adventures of NYC lawyer Matt Murdock (Cox). Blinded as a child, his other senses are elevated to superhuman levels, allowing him to fight crime as masked vigilante Daredevil. The first season is available for streaming on April 10th.
Netflix
Krysten Ritter will star as Jessica Jones, the titular superheroine-turned-private detective in another Marvel and Netflix collaboration, "A.K.A. Jessica Jones." The series will air on Netflix in 2015, and will also star Mike Colter ("The Good Wife").
Netflix
The fourth and final season of the former AMC series, "The Killing," found a home on Netflix. The crime drama recently wrapped up its run with Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman in their lead roles as homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.
Netflix
"Arrested Development" got a reboot for a fourth and final season on Netflix. Die-hard fans of the show argued over the success of the streamed season, but we still saw all original cast members return to reprise their quirky, dysfunctional roles in the Bluth family.
Netflix
The creepy crime drama, "The Fall," originally a BBC series, premieres its second season Jan. 16th on Netflix. Set in Northern Ireland, the show follows detective Stella Gibson and her pursuit of serial killer Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan ("Fifty Shades of Grey").
Netflix
Netflix continues its love of historical crime dramas with "Peaky Blinders." Set in 1919 post-WWI England, the crime saga follows a gang as they operate out of Birmingham, led by mob boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).
Netflix
Cult favorite and former NBC comedy "Community" was brought from the brink of cancelation by none other than Yahoo. Its sixth season will be available for streaming March 17th, and will add Paget Brewster ("Criminal Minds") to its main cast.
NBC
"Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," the brainchild of Jerry Seinfeld, premiered on Crackle in 2012. Seinfeld has let us in on chats with Louis C.K., Jimmy Fallon, Larry David, and many others.
Crackle
Created by "Late Night" host Seth Meyers and streamed on Hulu, offbeat superhero comedy "The Awesomes" follows Prock (voiced by Meyers) the son of Mr. Awesome, the greatest superhero on earth. When Mr. Awesome retires, Prock gathers his own team of sub-par heroes, and hilarity ensues.
Hulu
Hulu original comedy "The Hotwives of Orlando" blatantly spoofs the "Real Housewives" franchise. It stars Casey Wilson, Kristen Schaal, Angela Kinsey, Danielle Schneider, Tymberlee Hill and Andrea Savage as wealthy housewives in Orlando, Florida. The second season will premiere sometime in 2015 and follow a new group of women living in Las Vegas.
Hulu
Another Hulu original, "Quickdraw" tells the tale of Sheriff John Henry Hoyle, a recent Harvard graduate, and Deputy Eli as they blunder through Wild West crime in 1870s Kansas.
Hulu
Hulu's drama series "East Los High" chronicles the coming-of-age of a high school group in East L.A. The series marks Hulu's first with an all Latino cast, starring Alicia Sixtos (ABC Family's "The Fosters") and Vannessa Vasquez. The show was renewed for a third season.
Hulu
Continuing with the rise of original YouTube content, "Video Game High School" is a futuristic action comedy that follows BrianD (Josh Baylock), a newly admitted student to VGHS as he navigates the world of competitive gaming making friends and enemies along the way.
YouTube
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Online streaming sites are more popular than ever now that they’re creating original, knockout shows; here are TheWrap’s top picks
The Amazon Studios original series "Transparent" chronicles the abnormal life of the Pfefferman family once it's revealed that father Mort is transgender. The groundbreaking series won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and Jeffrey Tambor snagged the award for Best Actor in a Television Series for his portrayal of Mort-now-Maura Pfefferman.