Compiled by Donald H. Harrison
Tom Wheeler, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, proposed rules on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to keep the Internet “neutral,” meaning that wealthy users could not gain preference or priority by paying more to their providers. The FCC’s chairman’s proposal — which now goes to a vote of the full Federal Communications Commission — may be read by clicking here.
In a separate Internet development, bipartisan bills were introduced in the Senate and in the House of Representatives to protect against government snooping on Internet messages and documents stored in the Cloud.
The FCC chairman’s “web neutrality” announcement was greeted with enthusiasm by three Jewish senators–Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon and Brian Schatz of Hawaii.
“This is a victory for consumers and entrepreneurs,” said Sanders, who had collected nearly 50,000 signatures through his website in favor of web neutrality. “The proposal would ensure that the Internet remains a space for theopen exchange of ideas and information, free of discrimination and corporate control.”
Schatz said: “A free and open Internet is critical to fostering innovation and enabling continued investment in our nation’s broadband network. It must continue to be a level playing field where everyone has an equal opportunity to compete. I am pleased that the Chairman’s proposal bans blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization for both mobile and fixed broadband providers. I believe that these new proposed rules provide clear regulatory guidance for industry while at the same time, preserving the FCC’s authority to prevent other forms of discrimination that threaten Internet openness in the future.”
Wyden commented: “Millions of American small businesses, consumers and innovators spoke and Chairman Wheeler listened. Without the open Internet, start-ups will never leave the garage,” Wyden said. “The FCC should adopt this proposal and ensure that monopolies are never allowed to slam the door on American innovation.”
The issue of web privacy was addressed in the House by U.S. Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) and Kevin Yoder (R-Kansas) and in the Senate by Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont). U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) has joined as a Senate cosponsor.
““For too long now Americans’ electronic communications have been subject to invasive and unwarranted searches based on laws written for the Apple 2, not the iPhone 6,” said Polis. “Today, a majority of the House of Representatives {including 227 additional co-sponsors) is standing up to say that the government has no more business reading your personal email than it does reading your physical mail. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this bipartisan bill and make a reasonable expectation of privacy the law for all forms of communication.”
The bill protects Americans’ email and other data held in the cloud by requiring law enforcement agencies to obtain a search warrant based on probable cause before accessing it. Polis said the measure “replaces the obsolete ‘180-day rule,’ which some government agencies invoke to claim warrantless access to older emails.”
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The Jewish Citizen
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U.S. Senate
EARTHQUAKES — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, both California Democrats, have praised President Obama for including $5 million in his Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal to help fund the West Coast Earthquake Early Warning system now under development by Caltech, UC Berkeley and the University of Washington. Schiff said the system can provide users with seconds to even a minute or more of warning before shaking hits, depending on the distance to the epicenter. “A fully built-out West Coast earthquake early warning system is critical to saving lives and protecting infrastructure by giving us a heads up before the next ‘big one’ hits,” he said. Feinstein said: “The next West Coast earthquake is a question of when, not if, and an earthquake early-warning system is necessary to save lives, reduce property damage and protect critical infrastructure.”
U.S. House of Representatives
NETANYAHU–Israel’s Ambassador Ron Dermer met with seven Jewish Democratic members of the House of Representatives who had expressed concern over the political wisdom of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu coming to Washington as a guest of the Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner to oppose Democratic President Barack Obama’s Iran policy during a planned March 3 Joint Session of Congress. Those attending the closed-door session were Ted Deutch of Florida, Steve Israel of New York, Sander Levin of Michigan, Nita Lowey of New York, Jerrold Nadler of New York, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida. Wasserman-Schultz also is the chair of the national Democratic party.
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TRAIN SAFETY–The Metro-North accident that killed seven people on Tuesday night, Feb. 3, after the train struck a car and caught fire, prompted expressions of condolences for the victims coupled with praise for first responders and federal investigators from Democratic Congressmembers Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey of New York. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of last night’s terrible Metro-North accident in Valhalla,” said Engel. “I thank the courageous first responders who selflessly risked their safety to protect others. I am also appreciative of the National Transportation Safety Board for acting quickly and vigilantly to investigate this accident, so that we may do everything possible to ensure the safety of all Metro-North riders.” Lowey voiced similar sentiments: “My thoughts are with the victims of this horrible accident, I offer my deep condolences to their families, and I pray for the recovery of those who were injured tonight. I thank our first responders and have been in contact with the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, which quickly deployed to the scene.”
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PETS ON TRAINS– Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) and Jeff Denham (R-California) have introduced legislation to permit Amtrak passengers to bring along their family dogs and cats on certain trains. Currently only service animals are permitted to ride the trains. Said Cohen: ““For many Americans, pets are simply part of the family—and all of us lucky enough to have pets are incredibly blessed by the companionship they provide. I am proud to work with my friend, Congressman Denham, on this important legislation to ensure families can bring their pets when traveling on Amtrak and that pets aren’t left behind to fend for themselves.”
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Local Governments
LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS — San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald, reappointed as chair of the council’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhood Services Committee has set for herself “a very active agenda for
the year ahead. In addition to strengthening public safety, overseeing parks and recreation centers, addressing the needs of our libraries and improving the Community Development Block Grant program, we will tackle issues related to homelessness, veteran affairs, senior citizen services and consumer protection.”
Political parties
BLACK HISTORY MONTH — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida), in her capacity as chair of the Democratic National Committee, has issued this statement for Black History Month: “Through innovations in technology, advances in medicine, athletic and artistic achievements, and promoting social justice, just to name a few, African Americans have helped move our nation toward a more perfect union. The understanding and appreciation fostered by Black History Month strengthens our resolve to continue on the path of progress. The Democratic Party will keep fighting to expand the vote and protect the franchise for all Americans, and to push economic policies that put middle class families first. We remain strongly committed to making sure every American has access to quality health care and affordable higher education. Black History Month is our chance to reflect on and express our appreciation for the ways the African American community has helped shape the American Dream. But in equal measure, it is our responsibility to use those lessons to ensure equality of opportunity for future generations.”
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Items relating to Jewish women in Congress are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray Galinson.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. Your comment on any of these items may be posted in the space provided below or sent to donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com