Keep Internet free, fast

KEEP THE INTERNET FREE, FAST
[SOURCE: The Miami Herald, AUTHOR: Chellie Pingree, Common Cause]
[Commentary] A two-tiered Internet would put small businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, political candidates and local governments at a significant disadvantage and stifle the innovation that has brought us Google, eBay, the blogosphere, instant messaging and so much more. Failure to preserve net neutrality now would open the door to allowing Internet service providers to discriminate against websites and services that can't or won't pay for access to the "fast lane." If network providers are allowed to control the flow of information, the open and freewheeling nature of the Internet could be lost. Why is Common Cause so concerned about a telecommunications bill? COPE threatens the potential of the Internet to spur citizen engagement in their democracy. We know how democratic discourse has benefited from this technological marvel. In 2004, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 63 million Americans went online for political news. An estimated seven million individuals asked for e-mail updates from candidates, and four million donated money online to parties and campaigns. That involvement is only growing. Millions of citizens access information from advocacy websites ranging from Amnesty International to the National Rifle Association. And e-activists are transforming the way citizens communicate with their elected officials and have their opinions heard on the most pressing issues of the day. But this renaissance will be cut short if access to the Internet is determined by corporations more interested in selling goods and entertainment than in encouraging democratic discourse. So far, this is a message that our elected officials have not heard. Indeed, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., one of the bill's sponsors, predicted that COPE would win next week in the House by a majority of 280 or 290 votes. If that prediction comes true, our democracy will be the poorer for it.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/14532935.htm?template=...