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Internet for Sale

By Dawn Holian Iype
Posted on Tue May 16, 2006 at 12:42:09 PM EST

Tom Louderback, treasurer of Common Cause Kentucky, had this to say about the COPE bill in yesterday's Lexington Herald-Leader:

If this legislation passes, the Internet will be controlled by gatekeepers who will decide which Web sites get ready access and which get dumped into the standby line.

It's about money.

The bill would allow Internet providers to give preferred service to those who can afford to pay the most. User charges would skyrocket for those who could afford it. Those who couldn't, would just have to wait behind the biggest spenders -- assuming there is still usable access leftover.
Urge your congressman to vote against the COPE bill today. If you have trouble drafting your letter, you can check out our new compilation of newspaper editorials on the net neutrality issue for inspiration.


Tags: Media and Democracy, net neutrality, COPE, telecom, Kentucky (all tags)


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Internet for Sale :: 3 Comments

Internet for sale

I'm not from the USA but I know that what happens there will eventually affect the rest of the internet world.
The USA has a corrupt congress; bought and paid for by corporate interests , unless you can remove this corruption you and the rest of the world is doomed.
At the moment , the only thing that I see that may preserve net neutrality is if the content providers such as Google , Yahoo etc can lobby i.e over bigger and better bribes than the telco's.
That's like one predatory shark overcoming another predatory shark and the side effect is that net neutrality is preserved. This is not a good situation and unfortunately most internet users are unaware of the implications of someting like the COPE bill . This issue really needs to be addressed by the people on the net who appreciate what may be about to be lost; the Bloggers , podcasters and other activists on the internet they are aware and need to be as vocal as possible about what is taking place. before it's too late.

by Hugo on Tue May 16, 2006 at 11:05:11 PM EST


It's about more than money

It's about free speech, information democracy, and grassroots influence on politics. Under the guise of bowing to big business, the Internet bill actually attacks the most democratic medium in existence and threatens to make truth a commodity that only the wealthy powerful can afford.

by nellie on Wed May 17, 2006 at 12:46:32 PM EST


Big tip of the hat

Very well-put.

by Kirstin Ellison on Wed May 17, 2006 at 03:03:23 PM EST
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