Threat to our freedom : Save the internet
“When I invented the Web, I didn’t have to ask anyone’s permission. Now, hundreds of millions of people are using it freely. I am worried that that is going end” – Sir Tim Berners Lee.
Freedom on the internet is the best thing since the creation of the independent world. When we log onto the Internet, we take a lot for granted. We assume we’ll be able to access any Web site we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed, whether it’s a corporate site or someone’s personal site. We assume that we can use any service we like — watching online video clips, listening to podcasts, sending instant messages, downloading content or blog — anytime we choose. That is internet freedom.
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality means no discrimination on the internet. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down web content based on its source, ownership or destination. Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It is the reason why we blog.
The supporters of Net Neutrality include leading high-tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Amazon.com, Earthlink, eBay, Intel, Facebook, Skype…. Eminent figures such as Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig, every major Democratic presidential candidate, and FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein have called for stronger Net Neutrality protections.
Then there are the ones against net neutrality. Companies like Cisco, AT&T, Verizon (Internet Service Providers) believe that companies should be able to offer more, faster or special content and services over the Internet to some customers for a higher price. They wanna play the role of Internet gatekeepers.
The consequences of a world without Net Neutrality would be devastating. Innovation would be stifled, competition limited, and access to information restricted. Consumer choice and the free market would be sacrificed to the interests of a few corporate executives. You may pretty much be not able to read this blog as you have paid only for premium domain viewership which includes just blogs hosted on blogger.com.
The following excerpt is taken from google.com (Read more on Net Neutrality on google.com)
What is the Current Status of Net Neutrality?
Net neutrality is a major issue as the U.S. considers new telecommunications laws. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its telecommunications bill, H.R. 5252, in May, without adequate net neutrality protections. Now the fight has moved to U.S. Senate. On June 28, the Senate Commerce Committee passed its own telecom bill, S. 2686. While an amendment to the bill that would have added meaningful net neutrality safeguards failed 11-11, this tie vote marks a significant political victory and gives the effort new momentum. The debate now shifts to the full Senate, where advocates will be working to get strong net neutrality language is any bill that the Senate considers.
Click here to read an open letter from Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google Inc.
Sign the Save the Internet petition to Congress for Internet freedom. (International)
Write a letter to your U.S. Senator. (United States)
The video below explains the concepts of net neutrality and it’s present crisis. Do watch it.
(Winner of 2007 Webby People’s Voice)
This is serious stuff.. Some multinationals or telecoms operator cannot withhold our internet freedom. I am strongly against this and I have already signed the petition. I’d recommend you do the same. People in the US can also call up a congress member to express your concern.
Check out http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog for latest on the issue.