US appeals court slaps down FTC, AT&T walks free, cats and dog living together, mass hysteria The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has thrown the issue of who can protect American consumers into confusion with a decision for AT&T and against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The decision [PDF] could see the telecom giant walk away from a $100m judgment for throttling its customers' data speeds without …
Congress can act quickly when it wants to. If Trump loses and drags the GOP below majorities in both houses, _or_ wins big and so do GOP congress-critters, then either the lame ducks or the new mandated congress will pretty quickly pass whatever AT&T (and friends) say. The only hope is a Clinton win, and maybe a GOP congress but not so powerful as to block the appointment of a new SCOTUS judge who still has a backbone. Not holding my breath. (Hilary + DEM congress will make sure we all get Cerebral Implants to enforce DRM, so not looking forward to that. There's Big Business, and Big Show Business)
In any case, that's just the setup for this issue. The rest of the future looks pretty cloudy in general.
The FCC will now take over as the consumer's champion – something that it has said it's prepared to do, although so far it has repeatedly shown its inexperience in dealing with consumer complaints and internet matters. Its peculiar culture is still tied closely to its historical role as an inside-industry regulator.
I'm sorry, but isn't the role of any government organization supposed to be for the people?
Officially, as a matter of federal law, the oligopolies can charge you whatever they like, however they like. They may or may not do what they promise to do in exchange for the money you gave them. It doesn't matter, either way. You just need to pay them whatever they tell you to pay, whenever they tell you. And if you don't like it? You can just shut the fuck up!
Welcome to America, land of the fee. Government of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations shall not perish from the Earth!
The 9th Circuit Court is the most overturned federal court here in the US and can't actually make up their minds on anything. Also this was before the most basic version of this court with only 3 Judges. the FTC can counter sue to be heard by the expanded court with 9 judges. Opinions have a habit of changing when things are heard by the expanded court.
If one has a dispute with a Canadian ISP about the definition of "Unlimited" Internet service (for example: 'X' GB per month vice 'without limit'), then one submits a carefully documented complaint to the The Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS), argues back and forth a bit, provides clear evidence of their misbehavior, and then - just a few weeks later - deposits a 'settlement' cheque of up to several thousand dollars.
Ka-Ching. The money was serious enough that it helped to pay for a couple acres of land on a beautiful tropical island in Asia. Overlooking the turquoise sea, halfway up a mountain.
We call the property 'The Settlement'.
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