Act now: Community Internet access is under attack in Congress

[PDittie]

A new bill in Congress (HR 2726) could take away low-cost, high-speed Internet access in every city across the country.

The "Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act" would let cable and telecom companies shut down competing municipal projects that would offer universal, affordable access to broadband services.

We need to tell Congress to oppose this bill. I just sent a letter to my representative; please go to http://www.freepress.net/action/sessionsbill and send a letter to yours. It only takes a few minutes.

We must send a clear message to Congress that local communities — not the giant telephone and cable companies — should determine their own communications needs.

[Carolab]

1. Lord, I thought this was over when we beat back digital. n/t

[Beaver Tail]

2. All you ISPs are belong to us

Looks like a possible attempt to have more government control on the internet so blogers such as ourselves don’t have the access to world media and are subjected to White House Propaganda. This of course would prevent access to items such as The Downing Street Memo and other damning documentation.

[rodeodance]

3. you bettcha--half the people i know have small local companies!!

[PDittie]

7. Welcome to DU, B.T. n/t

[napi21]

4. I posted this yesterday! Write your Rep & Sen!

The telecoms are hammering them hard on this one because they want to eliminate competition. Remember, these folks want to be re-elected, and they'll respond to their constituents more than the $$ IF enough of us contact them! The $$ is nice, but there's only so many telecom execs who can cast a ballot!

[PDittie]

6. True -- they're not asking for caysh

Click the link and send an e-mail to your House rep.

[firefox]

5. A related comparison

The big companies have used the courts to block community broadband before. From memory I will say Mississippi and Pennsylvania. It is all but detail when the story is the huge telecommunications don't want that competition and have used the courts to block community broadband.

Buzzflash had a story that shows the fascism behind it all on busting up a company that takes milk from cow to customer at a price the big boys don't like. It is very related to this legislation- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002294753_danny01.html

[napi21]

8. I don't have this option, but my son does!

He lives about 40 miles south of Atlanta, and he pays $16.00/mo for broadband! It's offered through his local utility company. I guess that means Ga. doesn't have any laws against the telecom co's having competition. We all need to contact our reps and sens to tell them we're tired of this BS. WE VOTE, and have a whole lot more votes than the telecom execs!

[Carolab]

9. That's why they are controlling the votes. So we can't hurt them.

eom

[Fridays Child]

10. Kick. Read the text of the bill here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1971043

[GetTheRightVote]

11. I responsed, I hope it does not happen, getting screw again by Govt

:kick: