Speak Up for Net Neutrality

All the White House brickbats in the world won't stop Faux Noise if the telecoms stop net neutrality. Fox will pay ATT millions for instant downloads, while your favorite local blogger - or even big liberal sites like Kos and Firedoglake - languishes in unable-to-access hell.

Sign CredoAction's petition now to save Net Neutrality.

Who do you want to decide which websites you can visit or what Internet content you can access -- you or a big telecom company?

That's what the fight about network neutrality is all about. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet users, not Internet service providers, should be in control.

(Yesterday), the Federal Communications Commission (proposed) net neutrality rules to ensure that the Internet is free from blocking, censorship and discrimination by powerful telecom companies.

But the pushback from Big Telecom has already begun. Telecom lobbyists have begun an all-out effort to stop the FCC. Last week, eighteen Senators (all Republicans) sent a letter to the FCC opposing net neutrality. One Republican senator even announced an effort to prevent the FCC from spending funds to enforce the new rules once they go into effect. Separately, 72 House Democrats sent their own letter to the FCC opposing net neutrality rules.

This type of pressure from Congress won't go unnoticed at the FCC so now's the time to speak out and fight back.

Without strong net neutrality rules, we might have to rely upon the good will of large telecoms to protect our access to the diversity of political perspectives. We might have to trust companies like Comcast, which actively and secretly interfered with users' ability to access popular video, photo and music sharing applications; AT&T, which censored anti-Bush comments made by Pearl Jam's lead singer during a concert; and Verizon Wireless, which blocked text messages between a pro-choice reproductive rights group and its members.

We can't let the corporate lobbyists win. What good is free speech if powerful corporations have the power to stifle viewpoints they find objectionable?

Show the FCC that there is strong public support for net neutrality. Sign our petition today.

And don't be fooled by Lying Loser McCain's "Internet Freedom Act." Like "Clear Skies" and "Healthy Forests," its actual purpose is to achieve the exact opposite of its name.