Censorship Alert: Net Neutrality Under Attack--- Again
By: Teddy
Published On: 2/29/2008 12:38:45 PM
Late in 2007 Comcast was caught secretly inspecting Internet traffic, according to savetheinternet.com(http://www.savetheinternet.com/comcast.php). Comcast apparently had crippled certain users' ability to share files and download videos, and so on. This is precisely the kind of violation of net neutrality we all feared, at least those of us who are concerned about free speech online, and preserving an open internet. Some savetheinternet.com members filed a complaint with the FCC, which is now investigating Comcast's blocking. (I suppose one excuse from Comcast is that video or music downloading clogs the system, and should therefore pay higher fees, but clearly they stuck their nose into private communications, and this is the thin edge of the wedge for censorship of other communications). Needless to say, AT and T and other big telecom companies have had plenty to say to the FCC in support of Comcast, but the little citizen-user of the Internet needs to be heard as well.
This interference with net neutrality was not, repeat not, related in any way to the outrageous and illegal spying and warrantless search by the federal government of American citizens' personal electronic communications under the guise of "national security," condoned and enabled by these same telecom giants, who now seek retroactive immunity in White House-sponsored legislation in Congress.
What is at issue here is an end run by these mega-corporations around net neutrality, in yet another attempt to set up higher fees and slower service for "smaller" users, and the ability to censor or hamper communications with which they happen to disagree- like, say, a blogger or a political group they might dislike. Send the FCC a piece of your mind against Comcast's actions and in favor of net neutrality. There is a communication ready for your signature at http://www.savetheinternet.com...
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