Bonnie Parham
Internet Belongs to the People, Keep It So
Net Neutrality is something that the government should ensure for all Americans in the 21st century. With virtually all of the radio, television and other media outlets (newspapers, magazines etc.) merging as a result of relaxed monopoly laws, the Internet is a light in the darkness of one sided media.
I use the internet everyday for my news and my entertainment. Frequently I research and connect with like minded individuals from all over the world. There is alot of misunderstanding between peoples that can be alleviated with communication. While we may not always agree, it goes a long way to bringing peace and build a better future for all of us.
The internet is a wonderful resource and enables our myopic view as Americans to be broadened to see the big picture in the eyes and the views of our world neighbors. With our other media outlets being homogenized to the point of propaganda and not news, I think keeping the internet free from further corporate interference is critical to our freedoms and to Democracy as a whole.
In addition, a free internet is great for the economy. It enables all people and businesses to have an equal foothold in the world platform, and any constriction of that free flow would be an affront to every single business out on the internet with the exception of the large phone companies who want to control the rest of the world browing habits.
Net Neutrality then becomes essential to free speech, equal opportunity and economic innovation in America. Since the FCC removed this basic protection in 2005, the top executives of phone and cable companies have stated their intention to become the Internet's gatekeepers and to discriminate against Web sites that don't pay their added tolls.
This fundamental change would end the open Internet as we know it. It would damage my ability to connect with others, share information and participate in our 21st century democracy and economy. The FCC must ensure that broadband providers do not block, interfere with or discriminate against any lawful Internet traffic based on its ownership, source or destination.
We have the right to a free and accessible Internet. The phone and cable companies already make a huge profit as internet service providers, so they don't have the right to enact toll charges at every step of the way. Their costs are actually low now and if you grant them permission for further price gouging, you are only adding insult to injury for every person and every other business who use the internet on a regular basis.
I hope you understand that I not only speak for myself, but for millions of small business owners and individuals who are earning a living from the internet. The desires of a handful of phone companies cannot compete with the demands of millions of voters who will be looking either up to you or getting rid of you depending on how you vote on this issue. We respectfully request that you vote to KEEP NET NEUTRALITY. Thank you.
