I believe most Americans don't know what's going on right now in Washington and worse, far worse, they don't know how it will effect them.
The issue is referred to as 'net neutrality, short for internet neutrality. What's happening is that the Federal Communications Commission--the FCC--is deciding if corporations that supply the internet can charge more for faster speeds to certain customers willing to pay more.
Actually, Senator Al Franken has led an effort to fight the big media corporations and save net neutrality. He gives terrific, clear information on the fight here and what it means to and for us all:
There are at least three things wrong with this. Two big things.
First, it means those with money will get and have and keep more data. That is, more information. This is the equivalent of the old "separate but equal" theory from America's history that we decided was unconstitutional decades ago. It's just wrong.
Second, it means the corporations, especially, will have more and more power and control of that information. That wouldn't be good for us either economically or in terms of business. It's great for them, patently negative for the nation. It's worst of all for the people, for you and I.
The third thing very wrong with this is that, sadly, frustratingly and even destructively, it's being decided by, controlled by a person at the FCC who is originally from the very industry this ruling could help go the corporations' way:
Obama Nominates Cable Industry Lobbyist
Anyone who knows me knows I'm for most of the work of our current president but in this case, as in some others, Mr. Obama did "more of the same" instead of changing Washington. He appointed a lobbyist and campaign fund bundler for the cable industry to the head of the very powerful FCC, the very agency created to monitor these people. To use a cliche', it's "a fox, guarding the henhouse."
Anyway, here's what's going on this week:
FCC and Net Neutrality: What You Need to Know Before Today's Big Meeting
The biggest Internet companies in the world are squaring off against the biggest ISPs in the country on this issue, which will dictate the future of the Internet.
On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to publicly release its proposed rules about the future of the "Open Internet."I highly recommend you click on the article link above, go to the article and read just what all this is, what's going on, why you should care and what it all means. The future of the internet and of information is being decided now.
Still Time to Speak Your Mind on Net Neutrality
Please go to at least one of these petitions, sign it, and help save net neutrality:Petition | Save Net Neutrality | Change.org
Daily Kos: Campaigns: Sign the petition: Save Net neutrality
Additional links:
