Eighty years ago, the dawn of the modern communications age coincided with the rise of authoritarian leaders who controlled and manipulated communications in Europe.
The Department of Justice sued AT&T Inc on Monday to block its $85.4-billion acquisition of Time Warner, saying the deal could raise prices for rivals and pay-TV subscribers while hampering the development of online video.
Federal regulators unveiled a plan Tuesday that would give internet providers broad powers to determine what websites and online services their customers can see and use, and at what cost.
It is entirely reasonable to fear that Trump is politicizing the Justice Department, using the power of his office to subvert the rule of the law, as he has tried before.
American consumers are used to thinking of their internet service as a public utility, similar to turning on the tap and getting a consistent stream of water.
But those perceptions may soon be challenged by the FCC.
The Justice Department is suing AT&T to stop its $85-billion purchase of Time Warner, setting the stage for an epic legal battle with the telecom giant.
The Department of Justice sued to block the AT&T-Time Warner merger on Monday, warning that the combined company could drive up the cost of channels like HBO, CNN and TBS to rivals and ultimately the price that consumers pay for prized content.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, critics warn, is aiming to "destroy the internet as we know it and give even more gatekeeper power to a few huge companies like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon."