We're in what Bill Moyers has called the Fight of Our Lives. We've been seeing convergence of technologies and communications platforms. Policy issues are likewise converging. Angela Stuber recently blogged from the Community Wireless Netowrking Summit that we've got plenty on our plate with the digital divide as it is, and we don't need a deepening of the divide with the proposed tiered Internet. sought by major telco leadership. If they get what they want, it won't be the Internet anymore. (Angela's blog: http://angelastuber.blogspot.com/2006/04/tiered-internet-new-digital-divide. html) If the Internet is compromised at a fundamental level, the work towards digital literacy & social justice in which we've been colectively engaged is likewise undermined, I agree. If recent decisions and recent proposed legislation are taking us in that direction, what shall we do about it? There are national organizations active on these issues... and more and more of them are coming together (as they wake up to the issue). We need them in this fight, but they also need us in the fight. We need to proactively organize locally and regionally in order to add depth to our national and global movement. (The fate of the Internet is a global issue... these are questions about economic freedom, communication rights, and equitable education.) If you are ready to take action in your region, consider the value in sharing your experiences with those doing likewise in their region, or who are thinking about it... Several of us who are actively organizing in our regions have decided that we need to be more conscious and coordinated in our effort. If you are interested in coordinating with us, please contact me via email or phone. (773) 456-7737 Best Regards, Michael Maranda Recent Blog on related matter: http://wrythings.net/archives/10
-----Original Message----- From: Steve Wright [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 3:54 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ctcnet] Is the Pay As You Go Internet inevitable? Why Network Neutrality is critical. It seems to be sweeping through Washington as a really good idea. The Communications, <http://static.publicknowledge.org/pdf/20060327-house-telecom-print.pdf> Promotion, and Enhancement Act that passed through the subcommittee this week would "allow network operators to establish separate tiers of faster broadband service, and would also allow them to charge service and content providers "access fees" to use those tiers for express delivery to their customers." http://news.tmcnet.com/news/-voip-iptv-net-neutrality-house-senate-congress- /2006/04/06/1546968.htm Congressman Ed Markey comments on this bill http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=content <http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1382&Itemid=1 25> &task=view&id=1382&Itemid=125 More information on Network Neutrality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality If this goes the wrong way, we would all need to find different jobs, or get really in to sms. Steve Wright Program / Technical Director w: 415.901.5606 f: 415.358.4304 (general) f: 415.520.0124 (for CRM donations): +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Salesforce.com has been added to the KLD Domini 400 Social Index for its commitment to giving back to the community through encouragement of employee volunteerism, a generous and innovative charitable giving program and strong support for hiring the disabled. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
