Keep the Net Free

Leonard Souza discussed a looming threat to open Internet access: the nation's largest telephone and cable companies -- including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner -- would like to be the gatekeepers of the Internet. Souza encourages librarians to join the crusade to keep the Net free. Below is a segment from Souza's presentation on Net Neutrality:

There is a threat to the most advanced form of democracy ever to grace human civilization. It is called Net Neutrality. Now I bring this up because I know how important censorship, or the lack thereof, is to libraries. Net neutrality would be the first step to closing off the internet as we know it. At it’s core, net neutrality is what the internet is today. A free, interactive, unfettered source of information in all shapes and forms. There was a bill recently introduced into congress that AT&T lobbied. It stated that in order for broadband companies to continue offering their services profitably, they would require limiting certain types of content on the internet, such as video services, audio, wiki’s - you get the point. This was a feeble attempt for larger companies to start controlling what we are allowed to see on the net so that they could put a price on the liberties we enjoy so much today. Luckily, and I mean luckily, the bill was not passed. It was looking pretty hairy for a moment though. But what it did do is show that this beautiful creation known as the internet is vulnerable and there are people willing to destroy it for profit. So I ask that you stand up against those who want to take away the net’s neutrality. If this threat were ever to resurface again, and you hear a mention of it on the TV, or through congress, or however, get involved and stand up for your right to use the internet as you want to use it.

Find out more about Net Neutrality at savetheinternet.com.
DP