[Eug-lug] [Fwd: [OCFdiscuss] Fwd: Wyden Cries "Hold!" on Internet Discrimination]

[Edward Pennington Craig]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Mike JamesLong <maj at efn.org>
Reply-To: discuss OCF and beyond
<org.opn.lists.ocfdiscuss at lists.opn.org>
To: Tim Blood <tb at timbl.net>
Subject: [OCFdiscuss] Fwd: Wyden Cries "Hold!" on Internet
Discrimination
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 09:21:38 -0700



Begin forwarded message:

> From: Oregon CUB <cub at oregoncub.org>
> Date: June 29, 2006 2:31:53 PM PDT
> To: Michael James-Long <maj at efn.org>
> Subject: Wyden Cries "Hold!" on Internet Discrimination
> Reply-To: Oregon CUB
> <reply.100319.84629914.8561545350808555097-maj_efn.org at en.groundspring.org>
> 
> 
> 
>            News from the Citizens' Utility Board of Oregon
>         
>         
>         
>         Wyden Cries "Hold!" on Internet Discrimination
>         
>         
>         Fearing that additional charges on Internet access would
>         greatly harm free growth and access to the Internet, Oregon
>         Senator Ron Wyden announced yesterday his intention to place a
>         "hold" on legislation (passed yesterday out of the Senate
>         Commerce Committee) that could allow such charges.
>         
>         Wyden explained his strong opposition to the
>         telecommunications legislation, which contains a provision
>         corroding equal access to the Internet, this way: "Without a
>         clear policy preserving the neutrality of the Internet and
>         without tough sanctions against those who would discriminate,
>         the Internet will be forever changed for the worse. This one
>         provision threatens to divide the Internet into technology
>         'haves' and 'have nots.' This one provision concentrates even
>         more power in the hands of the special interests that own the
>         pipelines to the Internet. This one provision codifies
>         discrimination on the Internet by a handful of large
>         telecommunications and cable providers. This one provision
>         will allow large, special interests to saddle consumers and
>         small businesses alike with new and discriminatory fees over
>         and above what they already pay for Internet access. This one
>         small provision is akin to hurling a giant wrecking ball at
>         the Internet."
>         
>         Called by some an "Internet Tax," the ability to charge for
>         different levels of speed and service would be a boon to
>         certain telecommunications companies such as Verizon and
>         Qwest, while causing distress among Internet-based companies
>         such as Ebay and Amazon, and a wide assortment of
>         organizations (such as CUB) who use the Internet as a vital
>         communication tool. (According to theOregonian's David
>         Sarasohn, groups like the Christian Coalition are with Wyden
>         on this issue, because they rely on the Internet to
>         communicate with their many members.)
>         
>         According tothe San Francisco Chronicle (06/29/06): "The
>         debate over net neutrality has become a civil war of sorts in
>         the technology industry. Web content companies, high-tech
>         firms and grassroots groups had hoped to persuade lawmakers to
>         order the Federal Communications Commission to write
>         regulations that would prevent phone and cable companies from
>         levying additional charges on content providers to assure
>         speedier delivery of Internet traffic."
>         
>         CUB supports the strong stand that Sen. Wyden has taken on
>         protecting net neutrality. As he stated in his floor speech
>         yesterday: "The Internet has thrived precisely because it is
>         neutral. It has thrived because consumers, and not some giant
>         cable or phone company, get to choose what they want to see
>         and how quickly they get to see it. I am not going to allow a
>         bill to go forward that is going to end surfing the web free
>         of discrimination."
>         
>         Telecommunications services are fast becoming one of the
>         cornerstones of American civic and financial life, and the
>         Internet is the superhighway of our current telecommunications
>         system. We can't afford to stand by as equal and free access
>         to the Internet is eroded. Good work, Sen. Wyden!
>         
>         Two notes to end this piece: Our legislators need to hear from
>         you on issues that you consider important. You can find both
>         Oregon Senators on the web: Sen. Ron Wyden at
>         http://wyden.senate.gov/ and Sen. Gordon Smith at
>         http://gsmith.senate.gov/ . The Capitol Switchboard at (800)
>         459-1887 is also effective. Even a few calls on an issue
>         raises the profile, but a few dozen calls really pulls the
>         issue into the forefront.
>         
>         Finally, you may have friends and associates who use the
>         Internet, who value the Internet, and who may not know the
>         changes that are being planned for the Internet by telecomm
>         corporations. Please send this message on to them today.
>         
>         Thanks for reading CUB Online.
>         
>         Please visit our website: www.oregoncub.org .
>         
>         DonateNow
>         
>         Citizens' Utility Board of Oregon 
>         
>         
> 
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________
> 
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> 
> 

Mike

Land Line: 541-688-6635



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-- 
Edward P Craig
"ThinK this through with me, Let me know your mind"       Hunter/Garcia