Love Note To My Congressman

Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi
(R-OH)

Sometimes, I just have to give this little piggie a piece of my mind.  I had previously written him asking for his support of net neutrality.  He wrote back.  Naturally, he's not in favor of it.

First, a bit of his response.  (It was lengthy, filled with examples of "better" ideas from the GOP, all of which give Big Cable/Telecom everything they want.)  Then my answer back at him.

Dear Mr. [Gammons],

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding network neutrality. I appreciate this opportunity to correspond with you.

As you may know, on December 21, 2010 U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) members voted 3-2 to move towards greater regulatory oversight of broadband Internet. The decision by the FCC was part of a larger debate about the proper role of the federal government in regulating the Internet and the idea of network neutrality through government regulation, which I am opposed to. The FCC's rules and regulations were published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2011, took effect on November 20, 2011, and are commonly known as the Open Internet Order.  [And blah-blah-blah, etc.] 

_____________________________________

Dear Congressman Tiberi:

Thanks for the response.  I'm well aware of the issues surrounding net neutrality regulation.  The concept, and the proposal backed by Chairman Wheeler and President Obama to reclassify the internet under Title II, has broad public support across all sectors.  It has the support of content providers and technical experts.  The FCC received a record 3.7 million comments, almost all in favor of regulating net neutrality.  Congress has received over 2 million emails urging representatives like you to support net neutrality as we know it.  Millions more have signed petitions for the same purpose.  Republicans, outside of those in Congress, also support it, as do the majority of people in your own district.

Your knee-jerk opposition to protecting net neutrality is based on unthinking ideological rejection of any government regulation of any sort -- even regulations to protect consumers and the general public -- and on your desire to hand President Obama a "defeat," any defeat.

On this issue, public opinion and expert opinion are against you.  You're not representing me and you're not representing your district.  You're representing only the political interests of your fellow Congressional Republicans and the interests of your corporate benefactors.  It's disappointing.

Sincerely,

Buster Gammons