politricks and other distractions

Save the Internet TODAY

Sorry. No time to find a cute photo for this one. Shown the way by Daily Kos, I see that the end of free internet is in sight - something I've been afraid of for a long time. Cable deregulation went so well for the consumer, I knew it was only a matter of time until Big Business would want to rape internet customers, too. And of course, the mainstream media doesn't like the competition, so they're not reporting on it. For discussion of the topic, go to Daily Kos and read around. For more details, go to http://www.savetheinternet.org/ and read on. It will tell you there how your reps are voting.

But most importantly, call your representative TODAY. Action could be happening as early as 4/26, which seems to be... TODAY.

Click here to find your congressional rep's number. I called Greg Walden and they were very pleasant, especially considering he disagrees with me.

Call. It's fun! Exercise your rights, damn it! Flex your American citizen muscle before it atrophies!!

Now, cribbed from the Save the Internet site... note another Orwellian name for legislation. How can I get into THAT writing job? I'd love to come up with names like this that mean the exact opposite of what they do. It would be quite a challenge...:

"Congress is now considering a major overhaul of the Telecommunications Act. The primary bill in the House is called the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006" and is sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas), Rep Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Rep. Charles Pickering (R-Miss.) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.).

Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called "Network neutrality" that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn’t have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.

Who wants to get rid of net neutrality?

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies — including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner — want to be Internet gatekeepers, deciding which Web sites go fast or slow and which won't load at all.

They want to tax content providers to guarantee speedy delivery of their data. They want to discriminate in favor of their own search engines, Internet phone services, and streaming video — while slowing down or blocking their competitors.

These companies have a new vision for the Internet. Instead of an even playing field, they want to reserve express lanes for their own content and services — or those from big corporations that can afford the steep tolls — and a leave the rest of us on a winding dirt road.

What's at stake?

Decisions being made now will shape the future of the Internet for a generation. Before long, all media — TV, phone and the Web — will come to your home via the same broadband connection.

The dispute over net neutrality is about who'll control access to new and emerging technologies.
On the Internet, consumers are in ultimate control — deciding between content, applications and services available anywhere, no matter who owns the network. There's no middleman. But without net neutrality, the Internet will look more like cable TV. Network owners will decide which channels, content and applications are available; consumers will have to choose from their menu."

Sounds lovely, don't it? And this isn't one of those internet hoaxes going around. I swear.

As one commenter on Daily Kos said, "You don't even have to get off your a** to do it! Do it!"'

Thanks.

-- DC Native

posted by dcnative @ 8:38 AM