Moyers on America "The Net at Risk" | PBS

The future of the Internet is up for grabs. Big corporations are lobbying Washington to turn the gateway to the Web into a toll road. Yet the public knows little about what's happening behind closed doors where the future of democracy's newest forum is being decided. If a few mega media giants own the content and control the delivery of radio, television, telephone services and the Internet, they'll make a killing
and citizens will pay for it. In this clip from the upcoming PBS documentary "The Net at Risk" from Bill Moyers, airing on October 18 (check local listings), reporter Rick Karr looks at the issue of "net neutrality"- rules that the FCC eliminated, which allowed every American
and every company equal access to the Internet.

PBS airdate: Wednesday, October 18 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). For more visit www.pbs.org/moyers

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Moyers
• PBS
• Internet
• net
• neutrality
• documentary

[cybersphere]

These greedy selfish corporate assholes who want to toll the Internet need to be shot.

[buddybleau]

The day that the Internet is not free to everyone is the day I will throw my computer in the garbage!

[HexTest]

@cybersphere - Is protection from theft also a human right? Would you agree that no one should be forced to pay for things that they don't use and should pay for things that they do?

[cybersphere]

@HexTest I agree in principle. I also forgot about making the above statement. It was 3 years ago! I was harsh, but my views haven't changed. Fast Cheap Internet access should be a human right, just like access to safe clean drinking water.

[HexTest]

@beenn15 - So hospitals using the internet to save lives shouldn't have more priority over those who are downloading porn. Nothing stupid about that right?

**sarcasm off

[HexTest]

@cybersphere - Indeed, so should cell phone companies who charge money for providing service. Even if ISP's are the ones providing internet to us in the first place. why should we have to pay for it?

Everything should be free!!!

[hamy2tree]

Agreed!  And appreciate the feedback.

[EverythingY0utube]

@hamy2tree Hulu blocks it themselves, not the cable company. And Australia is thousands of miles away, of course it will be slow. If an ISP becomes destructive and jacks up rates and blocks access to what ever, it is called switching providers. Competition is our net neutrality. Competition will make the ISP's have better prices, drive innovation and in the end the consumer wins. What makes you think Gov't can fix every issue. Post Office gets their ass kicked by UPS and FED EX. Gov't = Fail

[EverythingY0utube]

Net neutrality will kill the internet. No one is complaining about the cable companies restricting access. If they do you switch ISP's, it called competition. I don't need the Gov't gaining more power and regulating everything in my life. 99% of companies are neutral and passing this would only drive prices up and give the Gov't the power to control the Internet. Wanna be like China where they block anything they want? My internet is fine just like my health insurance so fuck off!!

[hamy2tree]

Who said phone companies don't block sites? I have an Android HTC Evo. Unlike my computer based internet. Hulu is blocked unless I buy an extra service. So with that being said the last statement in the above video is a lie!

Anyone ever been to Australia? It's a pain in the ass getting internet there. Everything is so controlled. You have to buy how much you use much like buying minutes to a prepaid phone. Do we really want to take steps back like this?

[beenn15]

that was 4 years ago... why don't they have a blanket law that says bits are bits... and internet providers shouldn't dictate what kinds of bits they'll prioritize. They should just serve as a network router that allows people access to the 1's and 0's that make up the net. That's the only way to guarantee the so called "net neutrality".

[itcanbecheezcaketime]

Now.. hold the damn phone just a fuckin' minute. The government makes laws all the time as a preventative measure. The people are asking for just ONE bill to be passed securing net neutrality. Just one! But the government just wants to wait for a problem to start first. Why? If the people all want to secure the sanctity of the internet, then pass the fuckin' bill! They're supposed to be in office to serve our interests... well... wtf?