so you may have been hearing lately about net neutrality, which has been called "the first amendment of the internet." net neutrality is a set of laws that ensures that any internet user with any telecom service can access content online equally. (for example, if you have comcast internet, you can access a web page just as you would if you used at&t, or a local service.) it requires that internet service providers (isps) give equal treatment to websites.
isps aren't really into this idea, and lately they've been lobbying congress pretty hard to take away these provisions, which would give them a lot more control, and you a lot fewer options. and congress appears to be listening to them. it looks like net neutrality is in danger.
this means that your isp could decide to make some sites load faster than others, based on how much companies paid to ensure that their content was readily available. or, isps could choose to block content altogether, to punish a company that didn't want to pay for "premium service" or to keep customers from accessing the pages of a competitor.
in short, the internet as we know it could disappear. below are links to some folks who have organized to deal with this crucial issue. please take the time to check them out. this is a big deal.
find out where your rep stands here, and call, write, or email them to let your voice be heard! contact info can be found here.
your friends over at moveon.org have put together a handy petition for you to sign here.
wanna keep up with this issue? sign up here to be added to a contact list.
wanna learn more? read the save the internet coalition's blog here.
Dust Motes
1 week ago
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