Apologies if this is too off topic! (And it mostly interests US residents, I think.)
I am looking at this through the lens of securing my access to the Vim website. The FCC is accepting public comment on Docket 07-52, In the Matter of Broadband Industry Practices. Essential, large ISPs are requesting the right to offer fee based prioritization of web traffic. I did not find how to comment on the FCC site, but until someone posts how to do that, you can use the Common Cause form at <URL:http://www.commoncause.org/InternetFreedom> My letter (based on theirs) follows. Cheers, Alan Isaac Re: Docket 07-52, In the Matter of Broadband Industry Practices Please act now to protect net neutrality! Net neutrality is the longstanding principle that prevents discrimination on the Internet. Countries deviating from net neutrality do so primarily as a means of political oppression. Net neutrality protects political as well as economic liberties. Net neutrality was the basis of the growth of the Internet. Deviations of net neutrality put Internet providers in the position of being able to tax Internet commerce, which will damage its growth. Stop special interests from killing the goose that laid the golden egg! Telephone and cable companies wish to change the way the Internet operates. Instead of an open Internet that ensures every website can be readily accessed by anyone with Internet service, they want to control this access and implement a a fee-based system. It is easy to foresee that the websites of nonprofits, small businesses, bloggers, artists, and even political candidates will become more difficult to find or use. It is also likely that this power to limit access will quickly be abused, as it is abused today in countries that do not insist on net neutrality. That would be a disaster for our economy, our culture, and our democracy. I count on the Federal Communications Commission to protect consumers like me from companies that would like to discriminate against certain types of content on the web. I strongly urge you to support net neutrality principles that prohibit broadband providers from blocking, impeding or interfering with any lawful Internet traffic, or prioritizing any content or services. Thank you.
