Heed the Threat to Internet Fairness

HEED THE THREAT TO INTERNET FAIRNESS
[SOURCE: Philadelphia Inquirer, AUTHOR: Craig Newmark, craigslist.org]
[Commentary] The Internet allows people to help one another because it is pretty much a level playing field. Its inherent culture is about giving everyone a fair shot at success. There's a term for this attribute on the Internet: Net neutrality. In America, as on the Internet, you play fair and work hard, and you can get ahead. However, fairness on the Net is being threatened by telecommunications giants like AT&T and Verizon. They have openly admitted that their interests are best served by getting companies - their server customers - to pay for special privileges. They want to eliminate Net neutrality and instead gain permission to charge companies for preferential treatment. Essentially they want to create a Net fast lane for a select group of companies. I think most people would agree that telecoms shouldn't have the ability to grant Net privileges to the people with big money or power. So let's keep the Internet as it is: neutral, fair and free. And urge your local senators to keep it that way as the Senate considers telecom legislation this fall. The Philadelphia region, and the rest of America, deserve that.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/15495923.htm