FCC: Broadband Providers Not Entitled to First Amendment Protections

[flowers]

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/rudy-takala/fcc-broadband-providers-not-entitled-first-amendment-protections

CNSNews.com) – Two weeks after passage, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finally released its landmark “net neutrality” regulations Thursday morning.

Among its many determinations, the FCC stated that broadband providers do not enjoy First Amendment protections because they do not have a right to free speech.

“The rules we adopt today do not curtail broadband providers’ free speech rights,” the commission said on page 268 of its decision, noting that because they merely serve as a means for others to express themselves, broadband providers are not entitled to free speech rights themselves.

“When engaged in broadband Internet access services, broadband providers are not speakers, but rather serve as conduits for the speech of others," the FCC stated.

However, the point is a matter of contention because the decision also says that providers “shall not block lawful content, applications, [or] services.” (page 284).

The commissioners acknowledged that such a problem has not arisen to date, stating, “The record reflects that broadband providers exercise little control over the content which users access on the Internet.”

If broadband providers did exercise such control, the commission suggested, they may have some justification for seeking First Amendment protections.

“Claiming free speech protections under the First Amendment necessarily involves demonstrating status as a speaker,” the decision stated. “Absent speech, such rights do not attach.”

[Mrs. libsrevil]

Another one checked off the conman's bucket list. Voters today are among the most ill informed, illiterate, drugged up bunch in our history. It's the only way I know to make sense of electing this America hating creep to the highest office in the world, two times.

[truth_seeker]

Pretty aggressive to me, that the FCC would be spouting off about restricting "free speech."

[DCPatriot]

Another one checked off the conman's bucket list. Voters today are among the most ill informed, illiterate, drugged up bunch in our history. It's the only way I know to make sense of electing this America hating creep to the highest office in the world, two times.

But he has such perfect teeth.  And {{{sigh}}}.....that smile.   

[Charlespg]

   Among its many determinations, the FCC stated that broadband providers do not enjoy First Amendment protections because they do not have a right to free speech.

“The rules we adopt today do not curtail broadband providers’ free speech rights,” the commission said on page 268 of its decision, noting that because they merely serve as a means for others to express themselves, broadband providers are not entitled to free speech rights themselves.

“When engaged in broadband Internet access services, broadband providers are not speakers, but rather serve as conduits for the speech of others," the FCC stated.         

                                  FUFCC AND  FUBO

[Mrs. libsrevil]

But he has such perfect teeth.  And {{{sigh}}}.....that smile.   

You forgot the crease in his pants and how "clean" he is, uncle Joey said so.