Re: [BC] Senate Commerce Committee “Future of the Internet Hearing.” April 22, 2008

[Jerry Mathis]

All right. In the interest of furthering our understanding of what's going
on in politics, I did a BRIEF search on a number of these individuals.

On 4/18/08, ibshq at aol.com <ibshq at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> Senate Commerce Committee Names for  "Future of the Internet Hearing."
>
>
>    Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at 10:00 AM EDT Washington, DC
>
>
>
> Witnesses in alphabetical order are:
>
>
>
>
> Justine Bateman of "Family Ties" fame and currently a writer, and producer



I didn't look her up, no need to. Writer and Producer says it all. She's
going to push for even stricter copyright laws than we have now. Wanna bet?


Michele Combs, vice president-communications for the Christian Coalition of
> America



Another easy read. What you wanna bet that she pushes for tighter laws about
pornography and stricter access to abortion information (which most
Christian groups equate with pornography) and scientific content, especially
related to evolution?


Robert Hahn, Executive Director of the Center for Regulatory and Market
> Studies
>
>              at the American Enterprise Institute.



Appears to be a friend. In favor of regulatory reform, which seems to mean
BETTER regulations than the ones we have now. And as little regulation as is
needed.


Larry Lessig, Stanford University law professor



This person appears to be the most consumer-friendly person of the batch. A
believer in reduced copyright laws and restrictions, and a more open
internet in general.


Kyle McSlarrow, president and chief executive officer of the NCTA



It's hard to know at a quick glance what Mr. McSlarrow stands for. He is an
industry insider, a lawyer, and also a career politican. Personally, I'm
suspicious.


Patric Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America



Larry Lessig's antithesis. Mr. Verrone is one of the main characters in the
recent Writer's Guild strikes. However much content regulation and copyright
restriction there is, there will NEVER be enough for this guy.


Respectfully,
>
> Fritz Kass - IBS - Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
>
> www.collegeradio.tv



My opinions expressed here are my own. I'm sure there are people here who
know more (and maybe better) information about these people. Hopefully you
will share.

My question: Who the heck picks these people? If these are the ones, with a
notable exception or two, who influence our Internet policy, no wonder we
have the mess we have on the Internet today.





-- 
Jerry Mathis