David All, co-founder of the Republican activism site Slatecard.com, and Saulius “Saul” Anuzis, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, are appealing to their party to support an open Internet.

In op-ed printed in the Capitol Hill newspaper Politico, the two suggested that the old models of fundraising and organizing are collapsing, and that Republicans should embrace an open Internet as a key political organizing tool. They write:

As Republicans, we must not only adopt the new techniques and structure of Internet democracy, but also understand the importance of preserving the open nature of the Net as a policy issue. The tools that are available at low cost to Republicans are only there because of an Internet ecosystem that has managed to remain open, despite the efforts of phone and cable companies.

Increasingly, anyone with a broadband connection can upload powerful, persuasive political videos on the Web, start their own Web sites supporting candidates, or contribute to campaign fundraising appeals online.

A recent report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows a record number of Americans use the Internet to get election campaign coverage. According to the report, 46 percent of Americans have used the Internet, e-mail or text messaging to obtain news about the 2008 presidential campaigns, share their views and organize.

If we fail to engage in this effort,” Anuzis and All warn, “the Internet service providers, who control the last mile of the tubes into a customer’s house or small business, will choke off the affordable tools available to conservative activists. They have already started exercising their market power to block applications that enable Internet users to distribute information across the Net.”

Additionally, they argue that Republicans should support widespread broadband deployment, as so many Americans are still without access to high-speed Internet.

“America’s rural voters are largely Republican,” they wrote. “Yet they face major challenges in gaining access to a broadband Internet connection. The latest U.S. Census data show that only 39 percent of rural households subscribe to broadband — and nearly 10 million rural households are in areas not served by any broadband provider.”

Come to think of it, those all sound like pretty good reasons for Democrats to support Net Neutrality and and open Internet, too.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 at 12:59 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.-->