Keep our internet free from unnecessary structural interference. It belongs to no one, and everyone. Remember, it's your voice, too.
This particular page has been created for one very specific purpose: protecting what has been called "Net Neutrality."
Net Neutrality, as defined and upheld by the users of Wikipedia follows this Basic Theory:
Definitions
Non-discrimination means that all traffic over the network (typically digital packets or bits) is treated the same by the network, including the traffic originating with the network operator. This principle of 'bit parity' means that all bits are treated as 'just bits', and no bit traffic is prioritized over other bits, and none is hampered or disabled.
Interconnection means that network operators have both a duty of interconnection and a right of interconnection to any other network operator. Networks must be constructed so that there are a reasonable number of accessible interconnect points; that traffic is carried to and from rival networks at reasonable rates; and that the network is built with sufficient excess capacity to accommodate the reasonably foreseeable traffic that may be presented at the head-ends or peering points. Without a right of interconnection, there is no network.
Access means that any end user can connect to any other end-user. End users may be people, but the term could also mean devices (modems, routers, switches) or even other networks. Access means that a piece of content, say, an email message, has a right to enter the network, and if properly addressed, be received by the other end user, even if said user is on another network. In other words, traffic can begin at any point on the network and be delivered to any other point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, what happens if/when net neutrality is compromised? -The phone and cable companies will block online movies and cheaper phone service over the internet
-These companies will be able to decide which 'blogs' and political sites you can access
-The phone/cable companies will prioritize information in favor of companies who pay more for "premium" delivery
-A complete disruption of innovation throughout the internet in America
-This means discrimination, with the companies being able to steer you to web content and services that they own or have deals with
-Higher costs for companies like Google and eBay - if they have to pay more to ensure we can view their sites, try and picture the multitude of ways this will affect us as consumers; it will indefinitely result in universally higher prices all 'round
-The US will lose its lead on the internet as innovation moves overseas
In my efforts to present the best-possible information regarding what net neutrality means, I borrowed from Wikipedia, as it seemed to best outline the principles behind the term over all other sites on the internet. Since it has been recently brought into question, most Google results have a slant on them because the same argument is being used for the Net Neutrality bill's defense as that which is being used for its opposition. The bill which moved through Congress this past March, the House of Representatives just yesterday, will make its way to the U.S. Senate Thursday. See itsournet.org for exclusive details regarding the coalition for net neutrality and defense of our sacred democratic principles which the internet is supposed to uphold.
The House of Representatives has a listing of all representatives for any given state. Also, there is this page called "Office of the Clerk" This is a very useful page. Select your state and it'll bring up a listing of the representatives in that state.
Click here if you want to go straight to writing your representatives. The districts can get pretty specific, so you have to know your zip-code plus the 4-digit code that comes after it before you can get in touch with the representative for your district.
OK, this should make it very easy to get involved.
Here is the website for our US Senate. On the top right, select your state; it will take you to the list of senators for your state. Underneath each senator's listing, there is a contact link. USE IT; it never takes more than two clicks after that for any senator you choose.
Senator George Allen's page takes one extra step; on the left, type your email into the box, then click go; then you can send him your message
CALL: 202-224-3121 Let your voice be heard.
See below for related news links...more will be posted as they become available. I did not discriminate when selecting my sources, besides the fact that I chose them all from the internet...what you see is what you get.
News: Congress has been deliberating on the issue, and basically the consensus is: "If we don't have a definition of Net Neutrality, how can we defend it?" It looks like the one-sided, tunnel-vision view on this issue through the eyes of old men is going to further jeopardize the quality and freedom of our internet until they die and people who aren't interested in selling out our freedom are put in office.
Comin' in off the wire, not quite as fast as Google News brings it, but not everybody has the perfect ability to tap into everything happening around the internet. Oh wait, now the FCCdoes - pay close attention to these two articles; do you notice any relationship? Released roughly 9-12 hours apart...
I see it this way - the Romans started with Direct Democracy and as their populations grew, and the empire expanded, they required a change - to Representative Democracy. There are obviously problems with that kind of change - not everyone's voice is heard, but a representative is supposed to represent the majority of beliefs of the people s/he represents. (ask yourself - do they?) This is the system on which our own government is based, to an extent. Well, the internet seemed like our chance to make democracy more direct, more realistic - even though we never have a chance of going fully back to "Direct democracy", it was a shot at giving our people their voices back, in some potentially large way. It was envisioned as a 'town hall' and a 'meeting place' for all people to share their ideas and make their voices heard. But heard by whom? Take a look at the websites of our local representatives. You can tell just by their format that the concerns of the people - our goals, hopes, and fears - are secondary to their own. Something stood in the way - something still separated us from our government, and the internet was only regarded as a tool for capitalizing - it did wonders for entrepreneurs, garage-businesses, and one-minute millionaires. But how did it change democracy? Did it strengthen our voices, as it was originally intended to do? This resistance to net neutrality is going the opposite direction of the internet's original intention. It gives the broadband priority - the ability to MASSIVELY transmit information and ideas - to those who are already in power, who are already rich, and who want to keep that power. Leave the scraps for the people, they've got no need for highspeed-lanes. Get ready for mediocrity, weak transmissions, and forget all hope of making your voice heard by the masses now - the companies - and our government - will tell us what we may see, say, and do. My god...it's happening faster now than I ever even cared to realize before. Bad things are on the horizon.
