Net Neutrality: eBay joins the fight
Do you buy or sell things on eBay? If you do, you might want to join eBay's Government Relations at ebaymainstreet.com. From their Web site:
eBay supports Net Neutrality legislation that will prohibit Network Operators from replacing the robust open Internet with "Pay to Play" private networks that will force out and discriminate against content and service providers that refuse to pay new tolls.
Consumers, non-profits and businesses already pay for access to the Internet. Network operators should not be permitted to "double dip" by charging consumers twice for high-speed Internet access.
If you agree, go to ebaymainstreet.com and sign up using your eBay login. The drive for Net Neutrality is gaining momentum, and you can be a part of it.
Harris Miller on the Boucher/Markey 'Net Neutrality' Act
Submitted by Sean Holihan on Mon, 2006-06-05 16:11.
Lifted from his site, in case anyone didn't know.
"The internet is a powerful force for change and the free flow of information. It is also unique as an egalitarian environment powered by the quality of ideas rather than the depth of a corporate pocketbook. Creating a tiered internet would cripple that unique environment and suppress what has become an unparalleled marketplace of ideas.
"We cannot allow the internet as we know it to be fundamentally altered to favor a handful of large companies, at the expense of democratic discourse, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. I applaud Representatives Boucher and Markey, and the other co-sponsors of the Network Neutrality Act, for taking on this critical issue.
"When I am elected in November, I will do the same in the U.S. Senate, introducing and fighting for net neutrality legislation on that side of Capitol Hill."
Telcoms on air opposing Net Neutrality
It appears that advocates of net neutrality must be gaining ground, because tonight I saw at least two prime time TV ads on DC's ABC affiliate bashing Google saying that they want YOU to pay for the next generation of internet technology, describing net neutrality as "a nice name but a bad idea" and suggesting that if net neutrality prevails, consumers will pay the price. The sponsoring group is called Hands Off the Internet and an inspection of its website http://handsoff.org/hoti_docs/aboutus/members.shtml shows that many of its member groups are telcoms. The telcoms wouldn't be going negative on net neutrality if they weren't losing ground, so draw your own conclusions...