Save The Clock Tower Internet

I've heard rumblings for months of a move by the internet service industry to create two levels of internet- a premium one with higher speeds and bandwith and a second with lower speeds. Some sites would run better than others. The premium internet would, of course, cost more money. Website owners would have to pay for a better 'slot' for their site. Those sites who cannot get premium status will see slower speeds and diminished prominence. This would effectively end the near-perfect democracy that is the internet, making some ideas or stores or forms of media available more easily available than others. With the mass media in a state of slothful decline and the government ushering in age of "free speech zones", the internet is the last true bastion where freedom of speech is virtually unlimited (don't tell China, though, shhhh). As proof that lobbying is alive and well, these companies are pressuring Congress to make this happen via legislation. Considering what a greedy, clueless bunch is running Congress these days, this effort may be successful.

An incredibly diverse group of people are banding together to fight this-

Save The Internet

Info-

Congress is pushing a law that would abandon Network Neutrality, the Internet’s First Amendment. Network neutrality prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you — based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn’t have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.

Net Neutrality allows everyone to compete on a level playing field and is the reason that the Internet is a force for economic innovation, civic participation and free speech. If the public doesn’t speak up now, Congress will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign by telephone and cable companies that want to decide what you do, where you go, and what you watch online.

This seems to be a pretty big deal. Best keep your eye on this one.

[PS- Art Brodsky at TPM Cafe takes a critical look at this situation:
Congress Is Giving Away the Internet, and You Won't Like Who Gets It]