myJaxon

Found a couple of reports that are floating around that give some more insight into the debate of Net Neutrality and Big Media.

The first report was obtained by the FCC Chairman and subsequently buried, or ignored - you pick which one.  The FCC report provides statistics that prove that local news media report more local news than the Big Media Conglomerates.  Big surprise there. 

The second report is a between Free Press, Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America.  The report explains how America’s digital freedoms are in jeopardy and how their loss would effect us.

While you may think that this topic doesn’t affect you, read the reports.  You may find that you have been deliberately left in the dark on a few important issues.  

Alright, for those of you slackers here in Grand Rapids, this is something you can actually do to help with the Net Neutrality Campaign. The Save the Internet Coalition will be delivery thousands of petition signatures to Debbie Stabenow’s office next Wednesday. These signatures are from Michigan residents and we need to show some support. Here’s the info:

WHAT: Petition delivery to Senator Stabenow
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006, Noon
WHERE: Outside Senator Stabenow’s office, 3230 Broadmoor St., Grand Rapids

If you can make it, than click here to RSVP and let the event organizers know. This is an easy, painless, CHEAP way to show some political activism for a cause that is not only worthy but directly benefits you. I am going to attempt to be there, are you?

http://www.freepress.net/news/16962

The latest news from Free Press.net is the Telecom Bill.  They’ve posted a link to the actual bill if you want to read it.  They also include the promotional brochure that Steven’s office released and then subsequently pulled. 

As I was reading through Save the Internet’s Blog, I kept finding interesting articles that either support Net Neutrality or show how ignorant some of the individuals fighting Net Neutraliy actually are. 

I found some videos of some Senators who are supporting and fighting for Net Neutrality.  Here are the links:

• Sen. Olympia Snowe compares the telco plan to a “Soviet Union Supermarket”.
• Sen. Snowe talks about the shortcomings of the Internet “dirt road”.
• Sen. Barbara Boxer lists SavetheInternet’s grassroots composition over protests from Sen. Ted Stevens.
• Sen. John Kerry discusses telcos’ intention to discriminate and legislate their monopoly control.
• Sen. Byron Dorgan challeneges Sen. Stevens to prove non-discrimination language in his bill.

I also found Senator Ted Stevens’ (R-Alaska) June 28th Speech re Net Neutraliy on MediaCitizen’s blogsite.  My understanding is that the Senator had some trouble describing what the Internet actually is.  How is someone who can’t even understand the Internet trying to make laws regulating it?

If you’re thinking that the idea hasn’t made it to the newspapers yet, than you haven’t been checking.  The story has made it in some major newspapers publications: New York Times (twice), San Jose Mercury News (twice), San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, New York Times and Anchorage Daily News.

Joy, I found Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-Oregon) July 27th speech on the internet supporting Net Neutrality.  Isn’t the Internet a beautiful thing.  :)  I also found an article about how Senator Wyden blocked the Telecom Legislation.

You know it is truly a moronic idea when the Daily Show takes a crack at it and more than once.

So I accidentally closed my window, so this is all for now. I’ll continue reading through the site and see if I can’t find any more.

By the way, Save the Internet is a coalition of a whole bunch of different organizations.  If you want to know who is a member of this coalition, you can check the roll call here.

A couple of weeks ago, I signed the Save the Internet.com’s online petition, which resulted in sending a letter to my congresspeople. Today, I got a response from Senator Stabenow. Here is what she said:

August 4, 2006

Thank you…

…for contacting me regarding the Internet and the issue of network neutrality. I understand your concerns. I share your views that the Internet has been a catalyst for free expression, innovation and economic opportunity that has benefited countless Americans. I understand your strong concern that, without network neutrality, Internet service providers could act as gatekeepers and provide access only to web content of their choosing.

As you know, various bills have been introduced on this issue. Earlier this year, an amendment that would have made network neutrality part of the Senate Telecommunications bill failed to pass the Senate Commerce Committee, of which I am not a member. Should legislation on this important issue come before me in the Senate for a vote, I will keep your views in mind. Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to do so again if I can ever be of assistance to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator

DS:es

So this was her response. Question is, is this her response or what her PR people are telling her to say? She’s on the undecided list at Save the Internet.com, so she hasn’t made a decision yet. So for the love of GOD, go to the site, fill out the petition and send it to her. Maybe if enough of us do it, she’ll realize that we want Network Neutrality and she should be for it.

If you want to do more, you can go here and Save the Internet.com has a whole bunch of stuff you can do to help promote this issue.