There has been a massive corporate campaign to change how the Internet works as a business model. The Net has always worked on the principle of "network neutrality." This means that even though a user might be viewing or downloading content that is not that of his or her own Internet provider, the user is not charged more for this content, nor is it downloaded at slower speeds than the content of the user's provider. In other words, there is no "preferred content" on the web. Telecommunications companies want this to change.
Thus, Comcast (for example) wants to charge you more for the content that you view that doesn't come from Comcast. You may actually pay more for that content -- say movies, games, or music -- or this "off-brand" content may just get to you at a much slower rate than Comcast-preferred material... or both.
This is greed pure and simple. It is also anathema to the very concept of the free exchange of ideas that is at the root of the Internet. It must be stopped in its tracks.
The organization SaveTheInternet.com is spearheading this campaign. This organization has information on a new, bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives that would offer significant protections for the Internet, staving off corporate greed. They are asking folks to contact their own Representative, asking for their support for the bill. You can answer this call to action via this secure, private form. [Update: I've been told that the link to the form is down. You can, however, simply go to the organization's home page and then click the link titled "Get Involved." Sorry about that!]
I've written about SaveTheInternet.com before. However, my sister-in-law brought this new campaign to my attention this morning. I thank her for that.
14 February 2008
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