The Nationalization of the Communications System
From 2012.
Obama has signed an executive order outlining the nationalization of the entire communications system.
It is written in bureaucratese. I have no doubt that it was not understood by Obama. It is too detailed. It sets up a powerful new bureaucracy.
The language is limited to a national emergency. But an emergency on this scale is almost inconceivable. The government never discusses what could justify an executive order this comprehensive.
If such a threat to the nation (and the world) really exists, the voters should be given a detailed description of its nature. Congress should debate this. Solving it should be a high national priority.
If the answer is, “discussing this would create panic,” then democracy is a sham.
If the answer is, “we don’t know what might happen, so we are asserting total control in advance,” then this executive order should never have been signed. It transfers too much power to bureaucrats to determine when to implement it.
In 2011, Senate Democrats tried to get a law passed to give Obama this power. This attempt was no secret. You can read about this here [deleted]. Republican opposition stopped it. No problem. Obama has simply imposed his own authority to take this power. This is now the law of the land.
My prediction: no future President will revoke this executive order.
This is no longer a nation run by the Constitution.
The executive order is long. Few people will read it. It authorizes the White House to take over the entire communications system on the authority of the President.
Lots of committees will be set up to lay down the new rules. But the bottom line is this: Obama thinks that this power belongs to the President.
It begins with a comprehensive declaration.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Policy. The Federal Government must have the ability to communicate at all times and under all circumstances to carry out its most critical and time sensitive missions. Survivable, resilient, enduring, and effective communications, both domestic and international, are essential to enable the executive branch to communicate within itself and with: the legislative and judicial branches; State, local, territorial, and tribal governments; private sector entities; and the public, allies, and other nations. Such communications must be possible under all circumstances to ensure national security, effectively manage emergencies, and improve national resilience. The views of all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and the public must inform the development of national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications policies, programs, and capabilities.
For the full details, click the link.
Continue reading here.
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Published on July 11, 2012. The original is here.
This was Executive Order 13618. It is still on the books.
The Congressional Research Service produced a detailed analysis of this EO. It concluded:
As identified earlier in this report, EO 13618 changes federal national security and emergency preparedness communications functions by dissolving the National Communications System, establishing an executive committee to oversee federal national security and emergency preparedness communications functions, establishing a programs office within the Department of Homeland Security to assist the executive committee, and assigning specific responsibilities to federal government entities. Again, this executive order does not modify or end any NS/EP communications systems or programs, instead it assigns the management and administration of these systems and programs to specific federal departments, agencies, and entities.