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What good is free speech if powerful corporations have the ability to shut off or slow down viewpoints they find objectionable?
Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users, not service providers, should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online.
Big phone and cable companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner have worked very hard to oppose Net Neutrality and pave the way for "network management" practices that allow blocking of certain content in favor of Web sites and services the companies prefer. This could mean, for example, that traffic from sites such as iTunes and YouTube would be degraded in order to give an advantage to music or video sites in which your internet provider has a financial interest.
Fortunately, the bipartisan Internet Freedom Preservation Act (HR 5353), co-sponsored by Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Chip Pickering (R-MS), was introduced into Congress on February 13th and represents a very important step in ensuring the Internet remains a level playing field for consumers and innovators. This landmark bill would protect net neutrality and spark a much-needed public conversation about the future of the Internet.
Please fill in your information at right to become a citizen co-sponsor and urge your representative to support the net neutrality bill.