Q. How can I help fight the overhaul of the Internet? (From an email correspondent).
A. Hi! A first step is to become involved in the effort to establish Net Neutrality.
Network Neutrality -- or "Net Neutrality" for short -- is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
"Put simply, Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination."
FAQ on Net Neutrality: http://www.savetheinternet.com/=faq
SavetheInternet.com is a very powerful and informative website on Net Neutrality.
INTERNET USA
http://www.savetheinternet.
Join the Net Neutrality Coalition: If you have a blog, website, organization, publication, or just as an Internet user, you can become a supporter you can sign up for their email list and become involved in their programs, and let others know.
You can also join the Coalition and have your Blog, Website, Organization, etc. listed as part of entities that are committed to legislation and policies guaranteeing Net Neutrality.
What's happening in the U.S. Congress?
The SavetheInternet.com Coalition applauds the recent introduction of the bipartisan “Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” (HR 5353). Introduced on Feb. 12, 2008 by Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), this landmark bill would protect Net Neutrality and spark a much-needed public conversation about the future of the Internet.
The new bill would enshrine Net Neutrality -- the longstanding principle that Internet service providers cannot discriminate against Web sites or services based on their source, ownership or destination -- into the Communications Act. It also requires the Federal Communications Commission to convene at least eight “broadband summits” to collect public input on policies to “promote openness, competition, innovation, and affordable, ubiquitous broadband service for all individuals in the United States.”
Big phone and cable companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner have been lobbying furiously to kill Net Neutrality. They want to exploit their gatekeeper power to decide what you can do on the Web.
But Markey and Pickering’s bill deals a blow to the gatekeepers by ensuring that the public -- not phone or cable companies -- control the fate of the Internet.
Contact Congress today. Tell your representative to support the "Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” (HR 5353) to make Net Neutrality the law of the land.
Who's part of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition?
The SavetheInternet.com coalition is made up of hundreds of groups from across the political spectrum that are concerned about maintaining a free and open Internet. No corporation or political party funds our efforts. We simply agree to a statement of principles in support of Internet freedom.
The coalition is being coordinated by Free Press, a national, nonpartisan organization focused on media reform and Internet policy issues. Please complete this brief survey if your group would like to join this broad, bipartisan effort to save the Internet.
Who else supports Net Neutrality?
The supporters of Net Neutrality include leading high-tech companies such as Amazon.com, Earthlink, EBay, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, Skype and Yahoo. Prominent national figures such as Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig, every major Democratic presidential candidate, and FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein have called for stronger Net Neutrality protections.
Editorial boards at the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Seattle Times, St. Petersburg Times and Christian Science Monitor all have urged congress to save the Internet.
Sign the SavetheInternet.com petition.
Call your members of Congress today and demand that Net Neutrality be protected.
Encourage groups you're part of to sign the "Internet Freedom Declaration of 2007".
Show your support for Internet freedom on your Web site or blog.
Tell your friends about this crucial issue before it's too late.
INTERNET CANADA - The effort to establish Net Neutrality in Canada at a critical stage and public awareness is just beginning.
In Canada, you can access Saveournet.ca for information, and join a Coalition of organizations, blogs, websites, individuals who are working to establish Net Neutrality in Canada.
Also: http://www.neutrality.ca/
So far, "The Canadian Association of Internet Providers has asked the CRTC to instruct the big telecoms to cease and desist in traffic-shaping that is throttling access to the Web." Saveournet.ca asks you to "Tell the CRTC to put Net Neutrality on the agenda of the upcoming public hearings on new media. Also encourage the CRTC the hold public hearings in cities across Canada to ensure Canadians have their voices heard".
No legislation comparable to the "Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” (HR 5353) has been introduced into the Canadian Parliament.
The Canadian Action Party leadership has announced it plans to mount or cooperate in a nation wide action to prevent the loss of the free internet, and calls upon all Canadians to contact their Members of Parliament
immediately to demand he/she take immediate action to protect the free internet access.
For more information, please contact the Canadian Action Party at:
http://www.canadianactionparty.ca
Email: [email protected]
By becoming involved in preserving Net Neutrality at the U.S. Congressional level and Canadian Parliamentary level, and keeping the grass roots informed, all of us Internet users will do a great deal toward preserving the open and free Internet.
GLOBALRESEARCH.CA ARTICLE:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9627
NOTE: If Canadian and U.S. ISPs are successful in
implementing this per-site fee access charges on any sites outside a
"corporate core" of websites, the entire areas of civil society,
investigative journalism,public protest, issue advocacy, free speech
will be decimated, as we rely in independent websites which are not
tied into corporate sponsorship that would be part of ISP service
plans. U.S. and Canadian web-based journalists and communicators are
now gathering to consider (1) an online banner ad awareness campaign,
and (2) legislation in the U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament to
require all ISP's to offer unimpeded and open access to the Internet.
For more information please contact Open Internet Campaign at [email protected]. Thank you.
Please distribute far & wide. Thank you.
Death of Free Internet is Imminent
Canada Will Become Test Case
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