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CATCHING UP: Onorato’s moment, Gerlach goes ACORN and Sestak’s net-neutral

Sorry for the slow Monday yesterday, political junkies. Happens to the best of us.

Here’s some stuff you may have missed. Dan Onorato gets a couple days this week to bask in the spotlight of G-20, and to soak up the praise of Pittsburgh’s economic revival. President Obama has had nothing but kind words about the city, and as he eyes the Governor’s Mansion, Onorato is sure to use those credentials as a core of his background in fiscal policy.

Another gubernatorial hopeful, Jim Gerlach, wants an audit of the community organizing group ACORN. Pennsylvania Ave. has the details. For Republican pols like Gerlach, criticizing ACORN right now is, let’s say, not exactly controversial.

And Joe Sestak wants you to know he supports net neutrality rules—but also wants you to worry about whether Arlen Specter feels the same way. Check out the full release below.

More to come.

Joe Sestak Strongly Supports FCC’s Plan to Protect Internet Freedom with Net Neutrality Rules

Asks Why Senator Specter Supports Monied Interests over the Rights of Individuals

MEDIA, PA – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski today announced plans to protect Internet user freedom by preventing companies from selectively blocking or slowing service to individuals and small businesses. “Because it is vital that the Internet continue to be an engine of innovation, economic growth, competition and democratic engagement, I believe the FCC must be a smart cop on the beat preserving a free and open Internet,” Chairman Genachowski said. “…today, I propose that the FCC adopt…principles that reflect the evolution of the Internet and that are essential to ensuring its continued openness.” (The full text of the Chairman’s remarks is available at http://www.openinternet.gov/read-speech.html).

Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) applauded this action, having championed Net Neutrality since he first ran for Congress in 2006; supported implementing a formal version of the FCC’s 2005 “policy principles” on open Internet access; and has co-sponsored legislation in both the 110th and 111th Congress which mirrors the FCC’s proposed plan. The bill he has co-sponsored–the Internet Freedom Preservation Act– empowers the FCC with the ability to monitor and enforce Network Neutrality rules to protect consumers from unfair corporate practices.

Without action by the FCC, large corporations would become the gatekeepers of internet access at the disadvantage of individual users and small businesses. The FCC’s new rules– which Congressman Sestak has called for since he first ran for office– prevent a two-tiered system that favors large, established businesses over individuals and small businesses. The rules also prevent large providers– such as Comcast and Verizon– from abusing their market dominance, putting profits over the principle that the internet should be an open market place of ideas.

“This is the right thing for consumers,” Congressman Sestak said.  “At the end of the day, maintaining equal access to the Internet is what matters. Consumers should decide what content they view and their Representatives in Congress should not surrender that right to special interest pressure in favor of a system where corporations selectively control our access to the internet.”

In contrast, Arlen Specter:

·    Failed to co-sponsor the 2007 Net Neutrality bill (S. 215), which was co-sponsored by then Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton;
·    Failed to co-sponsor or introduce a Net Neutrality bill in the current Congress;
·    Opposed Net Neutrality in 2006 in favor of bowing down to the giants on both sides of this issue, because he believes it is “extraordinarily difficult, candidly, when you have the giants on both sides of these issues” (“Senate ponders policing of Net neutrality offenses”. CNET News. June 14, 2006);
·    Prefers investigating internet company violations on a “case-by-case” basis rather than issuing a “general rule” (“Senate ponders policing of Net neutrality offenses”. CNET News. June 14, 2006); and
·    Failed to follow through on his promise to create a “coordinated plan” to ensure equal internet for all (“Senate ponders policing of Net neutrality offenses”. CNET News. June 14, 2006).

Joe Sestak’s question to Arlen Specter is:  why has he supported monied interests over the rights of individuals- choosing a partnership with corporate internet providers over his duties to his constituents?

In recent months, Congressman Sestak has once again called on the FCC to implement a rule, after Comcast Corporation– one of the largest Internet providers in the country– violated net neutrality guidelines issued by the FCC in 2005. Comcast was found to have been selectively blocking connections between individuals and “unduly interfered with Internet users’ rights to access the lawful Internet content and to use the applications of their choice,” the FCC found.

As a co-sponsor of the Internet Freedom Preservation Act in both the 110th and 111th Congress, Congressman Sestak has called for:
·    Amending the Communications Act “to maintain the freedom to use for lawful purposes broadband telecommunications networks, including the Internet, without unreasonable interference from or discrimination by network operators.” This language would prohibit interference from network operators of the Internet and effectively establishes network neutrality with regard to content.
·    Requiring the FCC to evaluate whether broadband network providers are adhering to the FCC’s own Broadband Policy Statement (FCC 05-151), whether broadband network providers add charges for services that are inconsistent with the bill’s expression of Internet freedom principles, and whether certain consumer-friendly applications (such as anti-spam services and parental content blocking tools), network management functions, or policies for prioritizing particular Internet traffic (such as for emergency communications) may be consistent with Internet freedom.
·    Finally, the legislation also requires the FCC to conduct eight public broadband summits around the country within a year after the date of enactment of the bill to obtain testimony and input from consumers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, local governments, academics, labor organizations, and other interested parties about Internet freedom.

“The Internet has fundamentally and forever changed the way Americans live, learn, and work,” Congressman Sestak noted.” “Net Neutrality ensures that all Americans are able to access internet content and services without undue interference from internet service providers who too often put profit over principle. The bill I have supported since I first ran for office, and the FCC’s new rules, help preserve the freedom of Internet users in the media market place.”

September 22, 2009 at 8:15 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Dan Onorato, Jim Gerlach, Joe Sestak

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