A Big Business Effort To Dominate The Internet Is Underway!

Media Giants Want To Privatize Our Internet

Like many things that have been a boon for communications in the past--including television, radio, telephone, cell phones, etc.--the Internet was originally sponsiored and developed using governmental seed money and research. I recently posted about the US government asserting a right to access the research that is being funded by US tax dollars and funds from other governments.

Now the Internet is under attack by Big Corporate entities that essentially want to place a stranglehold on access and control. We already have enough corporate control over the media and telecom assets of the world, and these hugh corporations have benefitted greatly from special considerations, tax incentives and governmental funding. The telephone companies, electric companies and ISPs already control perpetual rights of way along our roads and highways, airspace and subterrainean areas. These folks are deliberately avoiding the obligation they have to deliver these services to the rural areas of our nation and the world. Depsite the original idea that the government would allow rights of way and incentives for the good of the nation and the world, these big corporate entities want more.

You think the Internet will always be the great freewheeling information superhighway you've grown to love? Well, think again. Media giants want to privatize our Internet.

The Internet was originally designed and developed using US tax dollars. It was originally a tool for cooperation, coordination and education of research activities across the US and around the world. Access to the Internet belongs to each and every citizen of the world. The telecom, broadband providers, media companies and other bug businesses are already making a bundle of bucks from the Internet. There is ABSOLUTELY no need and no justification for these corporations to assert any more control over the Internet, its backbone or its content than they already do. Comcast, Adelphia, AOL/Time-Warner, RCN, AT&T/SBC, Qwest, Verizon, Bell South, Disney, ABC, CBS, NBC, Viacom, RIAA, Yahoo!, Google, and tons of other entities are already posting HUGE profits in a relatively open network. There is no need for these BIG BUSINESSES that do not care for anything but PROFITS to have any additional control over the networks that comprise the Internet. It is just plain wrong!

Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be able to access any web content or applications they choose without restrictions or limitations imposed by their Internet service provider. For example, if you are shopping for a new appliance online you should be able to shop on any and all websites, not just the ones with whom your provider has a preferred business relationship.

If corproations gain the control they seek, only sponosred information and access will be allowed. Control is profit... and censorship.

Now, corporate interests want to violate the principle of network neutrality in order to increase their own profit margins. They must not be allowed to destroy the free and open culture of the web!

Telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon are lobbying Congress for the right to control where you go on the Internet, how fast you get there, and how much you pay for the service. In other words, your favorites websites and blogs might be left in the slow lane of the information superhighway.

And we have such an entrenched pro-big business congress that they are willing to sell off more of OUR assets.... and our freedoms.

Click onto the Common Cause petition web site and sign the petition to let these big corporations hear your voice.