Senators Who Support Net Neutrality

[Eric J in MN]

(the idea that AT&T and Verizon shouldn't be allowed to extort website owners to make webpages load quickly)

From
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/net-neutrality.php

Support Senate
(Membership Total: 13)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Sen. Joesph Lieberman (D-CT)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Oppose Senate
(Membership Total: 5)

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)

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Easy form to contact your Senators about Net Neutrality:http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=20933&afccode=htcct5

[Qanisqineq]

1. I've read about this net neutrality

and I listened to Sen. Dorgan talk about it one day on the radio. But for some reason, I can't wrap my mind around exactly what it all means. I feel dumb. :P

[Eric J in MN]

2. Try this analogy.

Let's say you get phone service from AT&T. And your friend gets phone service from Verizon. It's illegal for Verizon to tell you it's going to add static to phone calls from your friend unless you pay Verizon.

Similarly, let's say you own a website, and the server is connected to the internet with AT&T. Some people who visit your website connect to the internet with Verizon. It should be illegal for Verizon to tell you that it's going to slow down your website for your visitors unless you pay Verizon.

Another explanation

Right now, AT&T, Verizon, and other ISPs treat all traffic the same. But they could tell popular websites: pay us millions, and we'll give traffic to your website priority to speed up the loading of webpages.

The effect would be that the popular websites are out millions of dollars and may charge their visitors for more services. And that every other website runs more slowly because it's traffic is given low priority.

[Qanisqineq]

4. ah, thanks!

That clears it up somewhat.

[Eric J in MN]

3. another analogy

Let's say a movie theater announced that anyone in line to buy tickets who agreed to pay an additional $25 could cut to the front of the line.

People who couldn't afford that extra money would have to wait longer.

Similarly, it AT&T is allowed to charge websites for fast service (priority traffic), and "Democratic Underground" can't afford the additional fee, then we'll be waiting longer for the pages to load.

[jsamuel]

5. another

A railroad has a monopoly. It is the only railroad. It says which farmers can ship their stuff out and sell it. We need to make sure that the trains allow everyone to trade stuff.

Otherwise AT&T could decide that they like Wal-Mart over Target. They then let Wal-Mart on their train, but not Target. So everyone at home can only shop at Wal-Mart.

[Eric J in MN]

6. John Edwards also supports Net Neutrality.

He's not on the list because he's no longer a Senator.

I received a mass-email from him on the subject.

[ultraist]

7. Senator Edwards' Net Neutrality Petition

http://oneamericacommittee.com/news/newsletter/openinternet20060606/

When MoveOn and The Christian Coalition Agree

Jun 6, 2006

Dear Friend,

When MoveOn and The Christian Coalition agree about something, it's a good bet they're right. Groups as wide-ranging as Gun Owners of America on one side and U.S. PIRG and the One America Committee on the other are fighting to keep the Internet the way it is now - free and open to anyone with access to a computer.

Today, everyone in the world can communicate through the Internet on an equal basis. A small-time programmer like Pierre Omidyar can start an auction site out of his home office and turn it into eBay. A blogger like Josh Marshall can post his opinions on Talking Points Memo and end up attracting more readers than the country's biggest newspapers.

On the Internet, big corporations are on equal footing with everyday people. And it needs to stay that way.

Right now, special interests are pushing bills through Congress that would divide the Internet in two. Corporate deals would determine which web sites would run incredibly fast and which ones would barely run at all. Some users might not be able to access sites operated by regular people.

I don't want Internet service providers to decide which web sites I can look at. And I know you don't either.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on "Net Neutrality" on June 8th. Please help keep the Internet free and open to everyone by signing this petition to Congress. MORE...

Sign the petition now. http://oneamericacommittee.com/action/sign-petitions/openinternet/

[Eric J in MN]

8. It's nice that he gave a plug to the "Talking Points Memo" blog.

NT

[dusty64]

9. Kick!

:kick:

[LeftHander]

10. So net neutrality - isn't...?

Why do they name bills like this...

The Partiot Act - wasn't

It is so blatant.