*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** From: http://www.tompaine.com/features/2000/09/18/7.html BEWARE THE DIGITAL LANDLORDS! An Open Letter to Internet Users The Internet's Openness and Diversity Are at Risk Jeff Chester closely follows the AOL-Time Warner merger, and other issues, as Executive Director of the Center for Media Education. Dear Internet User: The Internet has become a medium on which many of us now depend, for communications, information, and even for entertainment. It has become essential in so many ways -- from sending messages to loved ones to finding information useful for our personal lives. The Net has become important to the economy as well, as the rise of the dot- com world illustrates. Finally, the Internet is a vital outlet for the range of news and perspectives beyond what is covered by the established, mega-merged media marketplace. For all these reasons the ability of all of us to surf the Internet at will -- to roam and discover a diversity of voices and alternative viewpoints, and to innovate on what we find -- is too important to limit. Yet this is what's at stake right now in Washington as the future shape of the 'net is determined. That's because the very nature of the Internet -- and the fair and commonsense rules that govern its existence and use --are being deliberately changed by a handful of media giants. Companies such as AT&T, Time Warner (and its proposed merger partner America Online) seek to become gatekeepers over the Internet, just as they are now the gatekeepers of cable television. These self-proclaimed "Lords of the Net" want to be able to decide who has access to the Internet, under what terms, and the manner in which users will be able to retrieve such content. Can any single entity control the Internet? With its thousands of service providers, millions of Web sites, and billions of pages, how is it possible for any single entity to control the Internet? That's because the Internet itself is changing, moving toward a new high-speed, cable-based "broadband" system. - end clip - See: http://www.tompaine.com/features/2000/09/18/7.html ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183 *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
