The GOP attempts a weak, last-gasp shoot-down of Net Neutrality:

The Republican Party has ramped up its opposition to Federal Communications Commission proposals to enact tough net neutrality rules with a call for the agency to conduct a “market analysis” of the broadband landscape before going any further. Representative Cliff Stearns of Florida, who asked for the study on Monday, was not shy about telling the FCC what he thinks it should conclude. “At first glance, net neutrality regulations may appear reasonable and harmless, but, a deeper examination reveals that net neutrality is neither reasonable nor harmless,” he warned. “These mandates would harm consumers, reduce competition, and discourage new investment and innovation at a time of tremendous technological growth.”

That seems to be the new Republican SOP: wait and study and see while we take the time to spread so many lies and smears that the subject becomes toxic. This is another area where Republicans are completely bought and sold by industry interests.

The Internet grew–exploded, in fact–and has thrived under Net Neutrality. The FCC is not going to change things, it’s going to keep them from changing. The whole cock-and-bull story about Net Neutrality “adding regulations” which will inhibit free-market growth and deny investors their due is utter BS–a lie cooked up by the telecoms who want to get private ownership of the Internet handed to them on a silver platter for free. Current rules ensure a free-market environment, something the telecoms want to end.

If Net Neutrality is not reconfirmed and made official, if the telecoms get their way and do away with the policy, you will pay more for Internet connections and services, and will get worse service for it. The telecoms, which already charge everyone for bandwidth, will divide the Internet pathways into slow and fast, and will add surcharges for the fast connections–and you’ll start paying for it. On top of that, the telecoms are asking for the power to tell you what apps you can and cannot use on the Internet. Had there been no policy of neutrality from the start, the telecoms would by now have decided for you which browsers, telephony apps, and email clients you would be allowed to use. A variety of apps and web sites would be blocked or banned, and your service would be slower and more expensive.

Hopefully, this is just impotent chest-beating on the part of Congressional Republicans, and the FCC will simply go right ahead and ignore the pipsqueaks.