How to Save Net Neutrality with NEXT LEVEL BULLSHIT Host Joe Irvine

Joe Irvine, founder of the web show Next Level Bullshit, discusses the current state of net neutrality and the likely implications if the Internet does not remain open, as well as other issues including news coverage by the mainstream media and U.S. immigration policy.

Irvine explains that what’s at the center of the net neutrality debate is that large cable providers and ISPs such as Comcast want to be able to prioritize the information going through its system, and then charge a premium to consumers to receive prioritized content.

“The FCC originally had some guidelines, but just this past year Comcast took them to court, and the court found that according to the words in your guidelines, you have no ability to regulate anything that’s broadband – only DSL type services – and (the FCC) has already deregulated that a little bit.”

He explains that this has resulted in things opening up somewhat so that companies can offer more services. “For example, Century Link offers Prism TV – they’re not just offering Internet connection services.”

When asked about how the net neutrality decisions will affect his own show, Irvine said that the cable providers would be charging YouTube more for access to their content, which would ultimately filter down to content providers like himself.

“They’re trying to push the FCC to keep everything equal, and the big telecom communication companies are basically fighting that, saying no, we need this money to upgrade our networks, which they are probably not,” he said. “Basically it’s the government stepping in and saying, cut this bullshit, everybody should have equal access, once it’s set up.”

He said the biggest opposition to net neutrality is coming from the big telecom companies backed by Republican politicians, who profess their view that it is better to let the free market sort the issue out.

When asked what prompted him to launch NextLevelBullshit, Irvine said it came out of his involvement in the site AboveTopSecret.com, for which he handles social media activities.

“I’ve been noticing a lot of people calling BS on actual factual material, and checked and double checked and double checked. And they’ve been calling BS on it because it doesn’t fit their narrative.”

One example cited was some propaganda from Russia Today, and he said the idea came about to “get out from behind the computer, get in front of the camera and actually directly call bullshit on some of these people.”

Irvine also speaks about misreporting by mainstream outlets like CNN, FOX News and RT, which he specifically called out recently for its blatant propagandist tone. “I honestly believe that it’s an arm that Putin is using to further his agenda – whatever it is, nobody knows, he’s keeping his cards close to the chest – on whatever he wants to do economically.”

He also addressed U.S. immigration policy and said that as a resident of Arizona, he’d had firsthand experience with the state’s controversial law allowing officers to stop anyone and demand to see their ID.

“The immigration issue has been used here to further the stop and identify bullshit. I’ve been victim to that her personally. Basically what happens is that if a cop pulls you over, or you make contact with an officer, you have to identify yourself.”

The police want to actually see ID, including all individuals inside a vehicle, not just the person who allegedly committed a traffic offense. He said the stop and identify law “was originally enacted because of the immigrants, they needed a way to figure out, is this guy illegal, is he really a citizen.”

“In a way there needs to be a way to check that. But there are a portion of people that do come here legally, they do go through the system, and they shouldn’t have to be subject to that bullshit.”

Watch the full interview for more from Irvine, including his views on politics and which party he believes poses the greatest threat.