FCC Chair To Push For Free, Porn-Free National Internet

Silicon Alley Insider:

During the FCC's December meeting, chair Kevin Martin plans to push for a free, but porn-free Internet service that would be available to all Americans. Reports the Wall Street Journal:

The proposal to allow a no-smut, free wireless Internet service is part of a proposal to auction off a chunk of airwaves. The winning bidder would be required to set aside a quarter of the airwaves for a free Internet service. The winner could establish a paid service that would have a fast wireless Internet connection. The free service could be slower and would be required to filter out pornography and other material not suitable for children. The FCC's proposal mirrors a plan offered by M2Z Networks Inc., a start-up backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers partner John Doerr.

Read the whole story: Silicon Alley Insider

Comments

[Pdubya]

autocracy and gubment intervention at its finest. as a parent, i enthusiastically support private software companies that filter out these sites so that my children don't see them. and subsidizing an entity to provide "free" internet only takes money from someone else and invites further gobment intrusion into privacy.

where am i? currency being destroyed. jobs leaving shores. illegals flooding entitlement system. imperialistic foreign policy...and now communications managed by big brother.

help us.

[Frenbar]

The free service could be slower and would be required to filter out pornography and other material not suitable for children.

Why does everything in our society have to be dumbed down to the level of a child? While it would be difficult enough to determine what is or isn't "pornography", who's to decide what other content is "suitable for children". Is it language that is considered offensive? What about pointed criticism of government officials? What about ideas that contradict official government policy? (I'm sure Kevin Martin would consider those inappropriate for children).

The public airwaves belong to the citizens, not to corporate stooges and bible thumpers.

[MagisterLudi]

OK, so it will be like this website or like the Net in Iran. Bo--r-i-n-g. Regardless, information will find the way.

[functor]

Put your Ma' s naked photo on the net. I'ill be eager to watch it...lol

[bubbuh]

just grandstanding..Hopefully, Martin will soon go to the home for defunct apparchiks.

[darthdarcy]

You can write the FCC at: [e-mail]

An let them know what you think of their pernicious, pusillanimous, insidious Chairman Martin...

Tell them TJ sent you...

[Peter007]

I'm for it. And I want the job of determining what is porn and what is not porn. I may as well get paid for doing what I do for 3 hours a day.

[Scalawag]

Ha! But seriously, it won't work. I manage a webfilter for a school district & the software is far from 100% effective & there is absolutely no way to make it so. The software would have to be able to scan an image or video & determine whether or not it is pornographic. I have yet to encounter software capable of making a subjective judgment. What will happen is porn will still be easy to get to, while people will be blocked trying to access "chicken breast recipes" or "beaver hunting".

[gmlaster]

I'm laughing, but that's actually happened to me, looking up "female breast exam" on a public library computer.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

it'll NEVER happen........way too many politicians/users will see to that

[ndem]

love this idea...free connect free content keep the porn at home in your bedroom

[lynettema]

I would make X rated (sex/and or violence) sites pay big taxes for use - if that were possible. Just think. Our national debt would be paid off in no time at all.

[Peter007]

Good idea. Think of all the royalties we could have gotten from the movie " Midnite Cowboy". It was X rated when it came out.

[marlainWA]

I hate porn but if you start filtering them other things will follow. What needs to be done is to make software easier to filter it out if each person wants to.

[Birdman]

This sounds like an ok Idea except for one mionor detail, a company that has already proposed this is the only one to gain from it since they already have a plan in place. Seems to me this is nothing more than a back room deal hashed out ahead of time so that the FCC can just hand over the frequencies to this sole provider. If it flies I hope that someone sues because it certainly sounds to me like an illegal deal was or is being worked out.

[SpinDown08]

Like I can't see through this?

Free, filtered internet comes out and then crushed private internet providers who won't be able to compete. This would give full control to them which in turn will allow them to decide what is pornographic, then offensive. More and more content will be filtered, and with only one major provider, you won't even be able to know what's out there in the real world. There goes your rights and also net neutrality.

I'm not buying this at all!

[AngryCitizen]

Can you say "censorship?"

[truthyguy]

And don't forget "sleazeball"?

[Takae]

What? No filter on violence and gore?

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Of course not. That would be un-American.

Sex is evil, even in a Democratic administration.

[iBlog4Food]

"Sex is evil, even in a Democratic administration."

Uh .. hello! Kevin Martin is a Bush appointee, still in a Bush administration..

[JimGroom]

Hey Kevin why don't you just close your mind and leave the internet alone? Oops, it looks like you have already closed your mind. I have nothing to do with porn on the net or elsewhere, but I believe in free speech and the Constitution which apparently you don't. The consumer can and will make the decision by themselves without the not so invisible hand of government. Get a life and leave it alone....Please!