Net neutrality

Please go on over to Smirking Chimp and read an article entitled, "Saving the Internet is saving freedom". This is important. I've posted about it before but it needs to be regularly in our consciousness so that we will take action.

The United States Congress is currently drafting a bill known as "The Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Efficiency Act of 2006", known as "COPE." This means privatizing the Internet, by allowing such private corporations as AT&T, BellSouth, Verizon and others to actually own it, and, in the process operate the internet and other digital communications services as private networks. The bill very, very clearly states that "certain classes of Internet providers may-- not unreasonably-- impair, interfere, restrict or limit applications or services such as Web sites or voice-over IP phone connections."

On April 26, 2006, the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications rejected an amendment to the bill (the Markey Amendment written by Ed Markey, D-Mass) that would have strengthened provisions for network neutrality. That amendment was defeated by a vote of 28 to 8.
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If we are deprived of free and complete and independent access to the Internet, we will lose the last vestige of getting the real news, and the last vestige of free and open communication available to any of us.

I just wrote a scathing letter to my legislative representatives, stating -- amongst other things -- "Please remember: I am old, but I sure vote." All of you who read this, must do the same. Let them know how you feel. Let them know. After all, you are undoubtedly reading this very article on an internet site, are you not?

I've signed petitions about this and I phoned my congressman, John Sullivan. It didn't do any good though. He voted against the Markey amendment anyway. Still, we must try. Some of you who live outside Oklahoma may have representatives who are not so utterly loyal to big business.