Online business is in danger as large corporations attempt to stack the internet deck against small independent business. In the difficult fight for Nwetwork Neutrality, some large companies including Google and Yahoo are supporting internet freedom.
My friend blogger Andy Wibbels (photo left) is one of the leaders from the business blogging community in this battle for what is called the First Amendment of the Internet.
The issue:
What is this about?
This is about Internet freedom. "Network Neutrality" -- the First Amendment of the Internet -- ensures that the public can view the smallest blog just as easily as the largest corporate Web site by preventing Internet companies like AT&T from rigging the playing field for only the highest-paying sites.
But Internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress to gut Net Neutrality. If Congress doesn't take action now to implement meaningful network neutrality provisions, the future of the Internet is at risk.
What is network neutrality?
Network Neutrality — or "Net Neutrality" for short — is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
Net Neutrality ensures that all users can access the content or run the applications and devices of their choice. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.
Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It's why the Internet has become an unrivaled environment for open communications, civic involvement and free speech.
Andy Wibbels is doing his part, speaking as an expert witness on behalf of bloggers and independent online business, in this important battle for internet freedom. He will be speaking to the United States Congress tomorrow (May 25) and needs our help.
He says in an e-mail sent to his subscriber list:
Tomorrow, I'm going to be interviewing an industry expert on net
neutrality for small businesses online - as well as the impact of impending
legislation to create a 'tiered' internet. I want to be sure I get all
our questions answered.
*What is your biggest question about net neutrality?*
Here is how you can call your United States Congressperson and get your voice heard:
From Save The Internet:
Call Congress about Internet Freedom
On April 26, a congressional committee caved to pressure from AT&T and Verizon and voted for a bill that would allow large telephone and cable companies to control what you do, where you go, and what you watch online.
This betrayal sparked a public revolt. More than 700,000 people have sent protest letters to Congress. Thousands more are calling their elected represenatatives to demand that they take a stand for Internet freedom. Because of the intense heat, some members of Congress are switching from AT&T's side to ours. The House will vote soon on whether to preserve Internet freedom; a Senate vote will follow shortly after. Every elected member of Congress needs to take a stand on Internet freedom.
Simply go to Save The Internet and enter your zip code and tell your Member of Congress that you want the legislation stopped. Now.
Do your part and join with other bloggers, internet business people, journalists and many major corporations, as well as independent business people in this very important battle.
Catherine Castro of Qorvis Communications is circulating the following e-mail, showing the support of many important companies opposed to the bill, to The Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary in an attempt to gain his support in stopping this dangerous legislation. The businesses opposed the bill reads like a who's who of the internet community.
Letter to Chairman Sensenbrenner from Net Neutrality supporters…
Catherine Castro
Qorvis Communications
Direct: (703) 744-7839 / Cell: (202) 230-2200
May 24, 2006
The Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Sensenbrenner:
We would like to thank you, Ranking Member Conyers, and the Members of the Judiciary Committee for your recognition of the importance of Net Neutrality for the protection of American consumers, competition and our global competitiveness. H.R. 5417, “The Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006” addresses the need for meaningful and enforceable Net Neutrality legislation to ensure that the Internet continues as a vital force of innovation and economic benefit for all Americans.
We are a broad and diverse group of Internet companies, public interest organizations, innovators and entrepreneurs, trade associations, consumer groups, individual content providers, and family groups who make our livelihoods on the Internet and depend on its open architecture to innovate, create and evolve the Internet for the future. We strongly believe that your Committee has a clear obligation to protect the original and fundamental laws that govern the Internet. These principles, embodied in the historic legal framework that today is known as Net Neutrality, have been present from the Internet’s inception, and have benefited all of us until very recently when the Federal Communications Commission acted to eliminate them for the first time in the Internet’s history. As a result, Congress must act to reinstate this framework to prevent discriminatory behavior on the Internet, maintain consumer safeguards against monopolistic practices and preserve an innovative spirit of competition that has kept America as the leader in the global marketplace.
We greatly appreciate the Committee’s actions in the interests of the millions of Internet users who depend upon the open Internet. The Committee has played a long, historical role in ensuring that our nation’s communications policies preserve the competitive telecommunications landscape and we hope that legacy will continue as Congress protects the Internet with meaningful Net Neutrality legislation.
Sincerely,
Acopia Networks
Adaptive Marketing LLC
Adobe
Advancedmultimedia.com
Aegon Direct Marketing Services, Inc.
Airespring
Amazon.com
American Association of Libraries
AnalogZone
AngleBeds.com
Ask.com
Association of Research Libraries
Awow Communications
Bandwidth.com
Bloglines
Borsetti & Co.
Business Software Alliance
CALTEL
Cendant
Chemistry.com
Christian Coalition
CinemaNow
Circumedia LLC
CitySearch
CommPartners Holding Company
COMPTEL
Comunicano, Inc.
Consumer Federation of America
Consumers Union
Corliant
Cornerstone Brands, Inc.
Dagdamor Media
Data Foundry
Dave Pettito Direct
DiMA
Domania
Downstream
Dreamsleep.com
Dresses.com
EarthLink
eBay
eBrands Commerce Group
Economics & Technology, Inc.
Educause
Elaine P. Dine
Electronic Retailing Association
Entertainment Publications
Evite.com
Excite
Expedia
Free Press
Free World Dialup
GetSmart
Gifts.com
GotVoice, Inc.
Graceline Canada
Hawthorne Direct
Home Shopping Network
Hotels.com
Hotwire
HSE24
IAC/InterActiveCorp
Iceland Health Inc.
iFreedom Communications
iNest
InPulse Response
INS
Intel
Interactive Travel Services Association
InterMetro
Internet2
Interval International
Intervox.com
IntraISP
Invens Capital
Isen.com, LLC
IVR Technologies
iWon
J. Arnold & Associates
JohnnyZip
Lafayette Group, Inc.
LendingTree
Lingo, Inc.
Listyourself.net
Livemercial
Match.com
McFadden Associates
MCM Telecom
Media Access Project
Media Partners Worldwide
Mercury Media
Merrick Group
Microcom
Miller & Van Eaton
National Retail Federation
Nationalblinds.com
NetCoalition
Objectworld
Pac-West
PointOne
PRC
Primus Telecommunications
Product Partners LLC
Public Knowledge
Pulver.com
RealEstate.com
ReserveAmerica
Rifftone.com
S & B Technical Products
Savatar
Savvier
ServiceMagic
Shelcomm
Shoebuy.com
Skype
Sling Media Inc.
SOHOlutions
Sonus Capital Management
Sony Electronics Inc.
SunRocket
Symantec
Symercy Financial Corp.
Techviser
Telekom Austria
Telephia
TELLO
Ticketmaster
Tier1Research
TiVO
TNS
Tonystickets.com
Tranquilitymattress.com
Travelocity
udate.com
VI Technologies
Vivox
WCW Networks
Yahoo!
Keep the internet as a level playing field of free speech and free competitive enterprise.
Go to Save The Internet and enter your zip code, Tell your Member of Congress, in no uncertain terms, that you want the legislation stopped now.
