Internet Regulation Threatens Carefree Browsing and Web Freedom

[NVMojo]

November 14, 2006

Many people take things for granted. They turn on the faucet expecting water to flow freely. They flip a light switch, expecting electricity to provide them with light. They also take the Internet for granted. You can plug in to a wall or pick up a nearby wireless signal and begin to browse the Web. You are free to visit any Web sites you wish and seek out any information you want.

But what if I told you that you weren’t allowed to visit anything and everything you desire? I am the gatekeeper and you must pay a toll to access what you are looking for. It sounds like that could get expensive and wouldn’t work out to be a very good deal for you.

Unfortunately, this scenario could become a reality soon if large corporations and telecommunication companies have their way. In this case, the gatekeepers would be the large Internet service providers and any organizations that have pockets deep enough to keep them happy. The Internet would become regulated and divided, allowing these companies to control the flow of information on the Internet based on its content and ownership.

The Internet has always been an open medium for people to publish or collect information. This content has been driven by the demands of the average Web browser, the overall consumer. Many online communities and niche Web applications have been created as solutions to those demands. How would you feel if you were told what you could access and could potentially be barred from things like MySpace, iTunes, or your favorite Web site because the site could not afford to pay a high premium to get the Internet equivalent of an “express lane”?

more...

http://www.freepress.net/news/19098

[savemefromdumbya]

1. like everything else

it starts off free

they must not take over our freedom

[Vorta]

2. damn them

I listened to one of the telecoms' mouthpieces talking about this. They are good at deceptive ways of putting things. They basically make it out like you are ripping off your ISP if your homepage is Yahoo or Google rather than the content pages of your ISP.

We pay the ISP to be invisible. They make a lot of money being invisible. But they want it all.

[Mrspeeker]

3. LOL MySpace and iTunes are the last sites you have to worry about

Its sites like this that have to worry!
The Democratic underground is not owned and operated by a large corporation. MySpace is owned by FOX and iTunes by Apple.
You are right though you left out the main companies lobbying for control, Comcast and ATT!
Rest assured that the last sites you have to worry about accessing if Comcast and ATT have there way, are business ones like itunes or myspace!