William F. Buckley
- Posts:
- 5,667
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- Founder
- Member
- #1
- Joined:
- Dec 21, 2011
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- Home Country:
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- Nation in Right to Life:
- Culture of Life
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What are your opinions on this upcoming General Assembly proposal?
Remember that World Assembly members are free to vote however they want on proposals.
- Repeal "Internet Net Neutrality Act"
- Proposed by Auralia
Affirming the legitimate practice of varying the quality of consumer goods and services with the price paid, also known as "tiered service", which fosters competition, maximizes consumer choice, and improves the overall quality of goods and services, Noting that the first clause of GAR #89, "Internet Net Neutrality Act", prohibits Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from offering tiered services, such as charging more for faster Internet speeds, more bandwidth or higher quality of service, Concerned that this restriction reduces consumer choice, preventing consumers from purchasing an Internet plan appropriate to their needs, Distressed that this restriction makes it more difficult for ISPs to be profitable and competitive, preventing them from recouping the costs of existing investments in network infrastructure as well as justifying further investments in network infrastructure, Remarking that the limited bandwidth available in several nations to handle the rapidly increasing onslaught of Internet traffic, particularly streaming video and other content with low-latency requirements, makes additional investment in network infrastructure especially crucial, Saddened that this restriction prevents the commercialization of new Internet content, applications and services which rely on tiered service, such as real-time medical monitoring over the Internet, which would require an unusually high quality of service and therefore a more expensive Internet connection, Noting that the anti-competitive practices targeted by net neutrality can also be prevented simply by creating a sufficiently competitive environment for ISPs, which is strongly preferable to harmful, overly broad regulation, Recalling that the postal service (the Internet's predecessor) has traditionally offered tiered services, including charging more for express mail delivery, and that there have been no corresponding calls for "postal neutrality", Emphasizing that nations remain free to introduce national network neutrality legislation without compelling other nations to do the same through GAR #89, Hoping that the World Assembly will focus its attention on more appropriate Internet-related pursuits, such as maximizing the availability of broadband Internet access in all member nations, The General Assembly, - Repeals GAR #89, "Internet Net Neutrality Act".
Click here to read the original resolution Internet Net Neutrality Act Category: Education and Creativity Area of Effect: Free Press Proposed by: Misrahistan
The General Assembly,
RECOGNIZING the essential role of the Internet in fostering economic growth, spurring innovation, and in promoting free speech;
REALIZING that the Internet has historically operated as a free and open international market where developers and entrepreneurs have had access to potential consumers on an equal basis;
SHOCKED that Internet Service Providers may seek to increase their own profits by frustrating, impeding, or impairing, including through discriminatory pricing schemes, the right of consumers to access lawful Internet content, services, and applications;
DEFINES the Internet as the worldwide communications system that connects computers and networks of computers to each other;
FURTHER DEFINES Internet Service Provider as any person or entity that operates or resells and controls any facility used to provide Internet access directly to the public;
FURTHER DEFINES network discrimination as intentionally blocking, interfering with, discriminating against, impairing, or degrading the ability of any person to access, use, send, post, receive, or offer any lawful content, application, or service through the Internet or imposing a fee beyond the end user fees associated with providing the content, service, or application to the consumer.
HEREBY:
(1) REQUIRES member countries to take immediate steps to adopt conforming laws, rules, and regulations, prohibiting network discrimination by Internet Service Providers in regard to lawful content, services, and applications;
(2) REQUIRES member countries to report back to the General Assembly within one year of the passage of this Act on their progress in implementing this Act;
(3) ENCOURAGES member countries to adopt laws, rules, and regulations providing a greater level of consumer protection than those provided for in this Act;
(4) PROVIDES that nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting an Internet Service Provider from engaging in reasonable network management consistent with the principles of nondiscrimination and openness;
(5) FURTHER PROVIDES that nothing in this Act shall be construed as creating an affirmative obligation to provide Internet access or to limit the rights of member countries to enact laws regulating Internet content, applications, and services, including those relating to child pornography or laws limiting access to minors or persons under penal sanction, provided that such laws follow principles of network nondiscrimination and openness.
Votes For: 4,506 (79%) Votes Against: 1,220 (21%) Implemented: Fri Apr 16 2010
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