Internet Heroes and Villains

[Commentary] If the history of Internet policy were a movie, it would feature the public tied to the tracks before an onrushing train of corporate lobbyists. The villain, however, is not just the powerful phone and cable companies these lobbyists represent, but the politicians who tightened the knots and then stood smugly by as our interests were crushed. So how do we change this unhappy ending to one where the power of the Internet remains in the hands of the people who use it? One politician at a time. Our policymakers have a civic duty to keep the Internet free and open. Internet freedom is essential to our economic recovery, national competitiveness, public health and civic engagement. Special interests should not be allowed to set Internet policy. Congress and the FCC must protect the Internet's democratic nature. And people who care about their online freedom must let their elected officials know about it.