Just as the sun set on the official comment period on white spaces at the FCC Friday, activists and bloggers injected their voices on the future of the Internet.

Fifty-six bloggers signed a letter asking the FCC to support opening up white spaces for high-speed Internet access. White spaces are one of the country’s best opportunities to close the digital divide and give millions of Americans a fast and affordable Internet connection.

The FCC will vote on white spaces on Nov. 4.

“Few agency decisions carry the potential to help millions of people,” the letter said. “As bloggers of diverse interests, we believe the FCC’s proposed rule would be a huge win for the American public — expanding broadband coverage into regions that need it most, lowering prices for consumers, and triggering lots of economic innovation at a time when jobs and investment are under heavy downward pressure.”

The letter continued, “Moreover, the blogosphere has become the public commons of the interactive age. Bringing more people into the online conversation is a boon to public discourse and civic participation.”

At the same time, more than 13,000 Free Press activists sent a Halloween e-card to the FCC urging the Commission not to be swayed by media lobbyists’ scare-mongering tactics to delay a vote on white spaces. The cards were delivered by Free Press staffers on Friday afternoon.

So while the National Association of Broadcasters spends millions to thwart Internet for everyone, thousands of Americans have acted and want the FCC to vote in the public’s interest.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.-->