Tag Archives: Service

Featured, Politics, Technology, US

FCC reclassifies the internet, approves net neutrality rules

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The Federal Communications Commission has just approved their plan for net neutrality, which also reclassifies broadband Internet as a public utility.

Under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act, the reclassification of the internet as a public utility allows the FCC to place regulations on Internet service providers (ISPs) such as Comcast and Verizon. These regulations would mandate these service providers to transmit all Internet content at the same speed, regardless of what interests are involved, according to Newsweek.

According to engadget, the FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, said, “It [the internet] is our printing press; it is our town square; it is our individual soap box and our shared platform for opportunity… That is why open internet policies matter. That is why I support network neutrality.”

Net neutrality, also known as open Internet, is an idea which says all Internet networks and content are equally available to all legal content generators, according to USA Today. Therefore, a practice called “paid prioritization” which results in ISPs showing preference towards companies who pay more for higher transmission speed of content, would be illegal.

The new reclassification also affects wireless data providers. The new plan places similar regulations on phone companies as those placed on other ISPs.

However, some people have spoken out against the new net neutrality plan.

Jim Cicconi, AT&T’s senior executive vice president-external and legislative affairs, said, “What doesn’t make sense, and has never made sense, is to take a regulatory framework developed for Ma Bell in the 1930s and make her great grandchildren, with technologies and options undreamed of eighty years ago, live under it.”

Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai said, according to FOX News, the plan represents a shift of power to allow the government to control the internet. Pai also warned the new plan would result in intended and unintended consequences, such as rate regulations. “The order explicitly opens the door to billions of dollars in new taxes… Read my lips: More new taxes are coming. It’s just a matter of when.”

The FCC has said the new regulations will be posted online soon and will be published in the Federal Register. The new regulations will also go into affect 60 days after their publication.

Featured, Politics, US

Breaking: Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has resigned

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Secret Service Director Julia Pierson, who has taken most of the blame for the various White House security breaches over the past month, has resigned.

The most recent security breach, which seems to have pushed the tipping point, involved Iraq War veteran, Omar Gonzalez, who jumped the fence surrounding the White House, evaded several layers of security, and made his way into the White House’s East Room.  What is even more shocking than the breach itself is Gonzalez was wielding a knife when he was subdued, which has raised concerns over potential threats to the president’s life.

This, as well as other incidents in the past month, are not the first time the Secret Service has come under fire for her handling of the security detail for the White House and the First Family.  The first scandal Pierson had to deal with in her role as Secret Service Director involved a bullet left in a Washington hotel room by an agent after spending the night with a woman in the room.

In March of this year also, three agents were sent home while on duty in Amsterdam.  The agents in question were found to be drunk less than 10 hours before they were supposed to provide security for the president.

When Pierson was named director in March 2013, many had hoped she could mend the Secret Service, which has had a multitude of scandals over the past few years.

Over the past few weeks, a number of representatives have called for her resignation.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said, in a secret service hearing concerning Pierson, “You’re not taking your job seriously… I have very low confidence in the Secret Service under your leadership.”

The Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said, according to the Business Insider, he welcomes recommendations for a new director of the Secret Service.  “I also request,” said Johnson, “that the panel advise me about whether it believes, given the series of recent events, there should be a review of broader issues concerning the Secret Service.”

Until the position is filled, Joseph Clancy, a former special agent in charge of the presidential protective division of the Secret Service, will take the place of interim director.