Monday, April 24, 2006

Controlling Internet Content

A cynic might say that attempts to control internet content and erase the "neutrality" of search engines was inevitable. A bona fide cynic might say content is already under the control of faceless corporate weasels and government regulations.

Matt has a host of info on the players involved, and the what's at stake, as well as how you can get involved, starting at SaveTheInternet.com. It certainly appears that all users and the many voices of opinon on the internet are bringing tremendous attention.

On their site, details emerge like this:

"
Internet Freedom is under attack. Congress is pushing a law that would abandon Network Neutrality, the Internet's First Amendment. Network neutrality prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn’t have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.

Net Neutrality allows everyone to compete on a level playing field and is the reason that the Internet is a force for economic innovation, civic participation and free speech. If the public doesn't speak up now, Congress will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign by telephone and cable companies that want to decide what you do, where you go, and what you watch online."

6 comments:

  1. Now the internets will have even more ads and spam than ever. If AT&T runs it like they run their phone company there will most likely be a per kilobite charge for things routed on their machines. Poof one day you go over on your kilos and the thousand dollar bill comes in and next month you are off-line.

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  2. Here's an online petition you can sign and forward to your friends.

    This is some crazy bullshit.

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  3. Kee-rist.
    Jeez, I'm so very weary of all of this.

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  4. Being loss of civil liberties and such. Thought I'd clarify.

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  5. Jed - yep, I get the feeling that despite folks paying for access, there is a thought out in the corporate world that we should all pay more.

    Thanks for the link to the petition, Tits.

    And Newscoma - sadly, or at least somewhat cynically, all our complaints and concerns about the loss of civil liberties seem to amount to very little. I see no signs of a "Jack Bauer" heading off the bad guys. Pecking away at this keyboard and posting on this page is kinda like scratching an iceberg with half a toothpick. Yet, so many hundreds of thousands of folks scratching away via the internet may actually accomplish something - that's one reason I can see that has the Powers That Be concerned about controlling the internet.

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