The Blue State

Net Neutrality 101: Get Involved

Most of us have heard the term NetNeutrality, some understand it and some don't. so I decided to help thosethat don't and keep it fresh in the minds of those that do. Crooks& Liars inspired me with their post 'There'sa problem. It's called Net Neutrality'

The easiest way to explain what Net Neutrality is, and the issues surroundingit, is through Save The Internet'svideo 'Save The Internet'. You can go to SaveThe Internet and click on your state and see where your representatives standon this issue. You can also send them messages through the site. More videos at Save The Internet's YouTube account

Save The Internet (explains Net Neutrality)

Big Ed's Swan Song (their latest video)

We're all guilty of sitting around complaining about issues, but rarely take the initiative to do our part. Let's not be sitting around drinking coffee in 5 years wishing we did our part.

Mark Warner says net neutrality must be protected

Here is a video clip from a Mark Warner Podcast about net neutrality:

Just in case you are new to the whole debate on net neutrality, here are the basics as explained by Slate.com:

The Internet is largely meritocratic in its design. If people likeinstapundit.com better than cnn.com, that's where they'll go. If theylike the search engine A9 better than Google, they vote with theirclicks. Is it a problem, then, if the gatekeepers of the Internet (inmost places, a duopoly of the local phone and cable companies)discriminate between favored and disfavored uses of the Internet?  Totake a strong example, would it be a problem if AT&T makes itslower and harder to reach Gmail and quicker and easier to reach Yahoo!mail?

Welcome to the fight over "network neutrality,"Washington's current obsession. The debate centers on whether it ismore "neutral" to let consumers reach all Internet content equally orto let providers discriminate if they think they'll make more moneythat way.

The group SaveTheInternet.com is lobbying Congress to prevent internet providers from regulating the internet.  The current bill to protect free speech online cleared committee and is waiting for a full House vote.

I guess this will be our chance to see which Congressmen get big donations from the cable and telephone industries.