When Will People Learn?

NeoWin: In their second major ruling on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a federal court verdict that would have required cable companies to open up their networks to third party Internet service providers. The decision will severely limit broadband operations for competing ISPs such as Brand X and EarthLink.

“The Bush administration has made it clear that they are hostile toward small, independent service providers like us. And we think that is a big disaster for consumers, and a huge win for the monopolistic phone and cable companies, which spend millions of dollars on lobbying efforts,” said Jim Tickrell, president of Brand X Internet.

While I’m not disputing that this is a blow for consumers or that the Bush administration might be hostile towards… well… anyone these days, I wonder how is that a factor here at all?

The Supreme Court is independent of the President. In fact, one of the sole reasons why they exist is to piss off the President: they are the biggest check of the checks and balances system. There’s no way in hell that the Bush administration should be part of this conversation – and if they are influencing the court, there’s a bigger problem than cable systems in D.C. Besides… none of the sitting Justices were put there by Bush Jr. – I think two or three were from Clinton and the rest from Bush Sr. or dare I say one or two from Reagan?

I mean honestly: if you fight your own battle properly shut the hell up already.


2 thoughts on “When Will People Learn?”

  1. Randy,

    Perhaps they are refering to the fact that the case was argued by the Solicitor General’s office on behalf of the FCC. The SG is part of the Attorney General’s office, and is appointed by the President.

    That said, they were really arguing on behalf of the FCC, which is a relatively non-White House aligned commission. The commisioners are appointed by the President but if I am not mistaken they are traditionally balanced with two minority party appointees for three majoritry party appointees.

    So while this was a decision made by the SC, the case was only there because of a decision by the FCC to consider cable companies information providers. That’s the argument, anyway, but I also believe that the FCC left the door open in the future to change the policy when broadband is more prevalent in the US.

  2. Sorry – I ain’t buying that. I don’t care how the case got there: it got there and was ruled on by the Court. That ain’t the Bush Administration’s fault, that the case got filed. Hell, if I lost a court case, I’d be furious with my lawyer – not the other lawyer for BEING there, no matter what the motives are.


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