to turn it off.
Just thought I'd mention, since the house bill is already lost, it falls to the Senate to avert this disaster. Two related bills are moving fast. Call your senators *this week*, preferably earlier than later, and ask them to support the Snowe (R-Maine)/Dorgan (R-N.D.) bill (S. 2917 "Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2006"). Ask them to *not* support the Sen. Stevens anti-Net Neutrality bill.
More info here:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/callcongress.php
--Hardy
-----Original Message-----
From: EMAIL:PROTECTED on behalf of Pottinger, Hardy J.
Sent: Sat 6/10/2006 5:11 PM
To: MLUG Members
Subject: RE: [MLUG] Oh, look, Hulshof voted against net neutrality
Here is a better FAQ on the issues.
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=faq
The Markey amendment was the only real protection for net neutrality in the bill that passed. The defeat of the amendment puts net neutrality in danger. The Internet as we know it today is in danger.
from the FAQ:
--snip--
What's at stake?
Decisions being made now will shape the future of the Internet for a generation. Before long, all media - TV, phone and the Web - will come to your home via the same broadband connection. The dispute over Net Neutrality is about who'll control access to new and emerging technologies.
On the Internet, consumers are in ultimate control - deciding between content, applications and services available anywhere, no matter who owns the network. There's no middleman. But without Net Neutrality, the Internet will look more like cable TV. Network owners will decide which channels, content and applications are available; consumers will have to choose from their menu.
The Internet has always been driven by innovation. Web sites and services succeeded or failed on their own merit. Without Net Neutrality, decisions now made collectively by millions of users will be made in corporate boardrooms. The choice we face now is whether we can choose the content and services we want, or whether the broadband barons will choose for us.
--snip--
I urge everyone to become informed on this issue. Try to see through the obsfucation coming from the telcos... because if Congress hands the Internet over to them, we're in a real heap of trouble.
What kind of trouble? Imagine trying to get a Web 2.0 startup going, if, in addition to the normal VC you need to chase down, you also have to cough up protection money to a host of ISPs, just so you can ensure a decent user experience. It won't happen, unless you get a nod from one of the major corporations. You won't even get off the ground.
That's not how the Internet works today. And it's not what capitalism is all about.
--
HARDY POTTINGER <EMAIL:PROTECTED>
University of Missouri Library Systems
http://lso.umsystem.edu/~hardy/
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