The nation's largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online.
This is horrifying, although not surprising. In white papers being circulated around the communications industry, plans are being proposed to have different levels of Internet service--all at a price, of course. Both telephone and cable companies oppose giving local communities the right to create their own wireless networks. They also want to get rid of requiring telecommunications companies to have public access TV channels.
The Nation asserts that "We must insure that phone and cable companies operate their Internet services in the public interest--as stewards for a vital medium for free expression" and I heartily agree.
If the government of the United States allows the Internet to become another self-serving giant commercial for business and not a vehicle for global communication, future generations will look back at our time, and point to us as putting the final nail in the coffin of world freedom. There are people around the world that we can communicate with every day via the World Wide Web. We can share our ideas and learn from each other. Making the internet wealth-dependent will snuff out freedom of expression and pave the way for one sided propaganda-driven junk media that now dominates both free and cable television in this country.
Common Cause has a protest email form to send out to the executives of Comcast, BellSouth, AT&T, Verizon and HTNet. PLEASE, I urge you, if you enjoy the internet today, if you enjoy reading or writing blogs, or anything online, click on the Common Cause link and fill out and send this form!
Common Cause also has a similar form to send to your Federal Senator(s)and Representatives.
Thanks to A Conservative Blog for Peace for the heads up about this story.
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