We are Controlling Transmission

Tim Cook: Hateful views 'have no place' on tech platforms [More]

They're also controlling what gets categorized as "hate."

I've seen (and made myself) observations about subjecting "progressives" to the same antitrust restrictions they would impose on the rest of us, about exemptins from "public utilities" rules they enjoy, about how phone companies don't impose their politics on the conversations they route, etc., and yet see no movement from the legislature to address the discrimination with even less chance anything will happen come January.

So what to do? I haven't heard the following suggested by anyone else:

The poles and cable lines they use to go through neighborhoods are dependent on easements approved by local governments crossing private property via rights-of-way.  Could an individual sue, or alternatively, could a "conservative" municipality require the companies to not discriminate against lawful communications before authorizing THEIR unrestricted lawful use? Any potential for class action? Others following suit and a cascading effect...?

Admittedly, this is blue-skying. I elaborated on how the idea could work some years back:

A key component of information delivery is establishing cable franchise agreements with municipalities, such as this representative renewal between Comcast and the City of Pittsburgh. In such agreements, a provider such as Comcast requests “that the City renew [their] franchise to maintain, construct, operate, and upgrade its Cable System over, under and along the aforesaid rights-of-ways for use by the City’s residents."

That’s because “the aforesaid rights-of-way used … are public properties held in trust on behalf of the citizens by the City and the right to use said rights-of-way is a valuable property right [and] the City … has determined that the public interest would be served by renewing Comcast’s franchise.”

Is such blatant censorship of supposedly traditional American rights in the public interest?

Cell towers require approvals, too.

Without the carriers, Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter got nothin'. Anybody with the legal credentials want to weigh in on if there is anything at all that can be used from this, or else propose a better way to address the problem?

Cable franchise agreements may hold key to challenging Comcast gun censorship

That’s because “the aforesaid rights-of-way used … are public properties held in trust on behalf of the citizens by the City and the right to use said rights-of-way is a valuable property right [and] the City … has determined that the public interest would be served by renewing Comcast’s franchise.” [More]

This evening's Gun Rights Examiner report advises to think globally, act locally.

So Much for Licensing and Registering Assault Weapons

Police say a Comcast contract driver may have intentionally ran over Dewey Skidmore. [More]

Dang, and the driver had even gone through a thorough background check.

This may help explain why Comcast is anti-gun.

[Via William T]

Commiecast

Comcast and its subsidiary Xfinity has banned Republican Congressional candidate Laura Loomer from sending out texts and emails to voters in what appears to be yet another example of Big Tech election meddling. [More]

It's past time to strike back at Con-cast and other discriminatory carriers, as well as the "influencing'" social media giants.

Tit for Tat?

 Citing 'censorship' concerns, North Idaho internet provider blocks Facebook, Twitter [More]

By request. Except the communists in Washington State are still not amused.

Does citing "net neutrality" sound Orwellian to anyone else? (And yes, I'm aware that applies to ISPs. Tell that to Comcast.)

[Via Steve T] 

Anthem

Mike Vanderboegh sent an email to the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance after reading about their proposed invasion of Earth by space aliens:

From: GeorgeMason1776ATaolDOTcom
Sent:Mon 7/14/08 8:01 AM
To: Angi.NJARA@comcast.net
Cc: dcodreaAThotmailDOTcom

As our unerring bullets fly,
May this ever be our cry:
Eat THIS, Zargonian scum!
You'll wish to Earth you'd never come.

-- Anthem of the Zargonian Hunters

Death to the Zargonians! No quarter asked or given!

Mike Vanderboegh
PO Box 926
Pinson, Alabama 35126

Let's hope it has the desired effect on herbivore methane production.

A Public Utility

Don't these cable companies have to make concessions to get exclusive rights to wire an area up? The same thing that forces them to offer public access channels and the like? Seems to me someone who understands this aspect of the law may be able to find a clause that would make such blatant discrimination unallowable... [Read]

The same could be said for networks that use "public airwaves."

To require it would hardly be imposing on a free market, as the economic fascist "public/private partnership" has already been established to the mutual benefit and enjoyment of both government and industry.  Plus the politically correct "progressive" corporatist media cowards gave up on free advertising speech a long time ago -- they made their deal with the devil, let them now live with it.

I say any chair in a bar fight.  If Comcast enjoys exclusive rights of way and easements, the hell with their censorship against normalizing guns, legal products regarded with special Constitutional significance. And as long as the Commerce Clause is invoked for everything else...

[Via Ron W]