Groups release dueling Internet freedom declarations

Two groups with members who opposed controversial copyright enforcement bills in the Congress have released competing declarations of Internet freedom, two days before the U.S. celebrates its declaration of independence.

One declaration -- backed by Free Press, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Center for Democracy and Technology and other groups -- calls for an end to Internet censorship, universal broadband access and net neutrality principles on an Internet "where everyone is free to connect, communicate, write, read, watch, speak, listen, learn, create and innovate." The second declaration -- from free-market think tanks TechFreedom, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and other groups -- calls on governments to "do no harm" to the Internet and to avoid getting involved in the broadband marketplace. "Government is the greatest obstacle to the emergence of fast and affordable broadband networks," the declaration said. "Rather than subsidizing yesterday's networks, free the market to build tomorrow's."