Plan for Better Internet Unveiled at Memphis Bash
January 12th, 2007 by tkarrLast night in Memphis, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition unveiled a visionary plan for a faster, more open and accessible Internet for all Americans.
While Net Neutrality forms the foundation of the “Internet Freedom Declaration of 2007,” the plan goes much further, setting forth a broader, more inclusive public agenda for the future of the Internet.
 SavetheInternet.com Shakes it in Memphis |
This agenda is built around three fundamental “Internet rights”: 1. Universal, Affordable Access; 2. An Open and Neutral Network; and 3. World Class Quality through Competition.
As the SavetheInternet Coalition gets to work with the new Congress, we plan to marry these principles to a broad grassroots lobbying effort in support of legislation that fosters a communications infrastructure that better serves the common good.
Prior to its broad release, the Declaration was signed by Free Press, Consumers Union, Common Cause, the National Association of State Pirgs, Consumer Federation of America, MoveOn.org Civic Action, Media Access Project, Educause and several other charter SavetheInternet.com Coalition members.
>> Click here to sign your organization on to the Declaration.
The Declaration was released before a crowd of 750 supporters at last night’s “Party for the Future” at Memphis’ Gibson Guitar Factory. The event kicked off this weekend’s National Conference for Media Reform, which will feature workshops and panels on Net Neutrality and discussions of SavetheInternet.com’s plan.
“As the new Congress gets to the business of making law in 2007, we’re going to make sure that they stand with us and against any corporate gatekeepers who seek to turn OUR internet into their private fiefdoms,” Josh Silver, Free Press’ executive director, said during the Memphis party.”
“Thanks to many of you who spoke out in 2006, Congress is now listening.”
The party was co-sponsored by SavetheInternet.com Coalition members Free Press and MoveOn.org Civic Action.
To stay up to speed with the latest developments in Memphis visit the Conference Blog: www.freepress.net/conference/blog/
January 13th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I’m curious . . . when the declaration says, “All lawful Web sites, devices, applications and services should have unfettered access to open Internet networks” it suggests a distinction between “open Internet networks” and “the Internet.” I assume this merely protects the rights of private (non-interconnecting??) networks to establish in-network rules that break such unfettered access, which seems perfectly reasonable to me. However, taken strictly, the claim might also be understood to prohibit the use of QoS to privilege VoIP or IPTV traffic (i.e. voice or video services) on “open” (interconnecting??) Internet networks; something I’d wholeheartedly support but which seems at odds with the notion of “network neutrality” as promoted in the the new Dorgan-Snowe bill and advocated for on this site by Wu et al.
Am I the only one who’s a little perplexed?
January 18th, 2007 at 3:06 am
[…] From Save The Internet: Last week in Memphis, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition unveiled the “Internet Freedom Declaration of 2007,” our plan to make a faster, more open and accessible Internet for all Americans. […]