Internet under attack by Republicans in congress

[Guest guest]

" Mark Hull-Richter " <mhull

Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:11:36 -0700 (PDT)

Internet under attack by Republicans in congress

 

 

A bill just introduced in Congress would take away the right of cities

and towns across the country to provide citizens with universal,

low-cost Internet access.

 

Giant cable and telephone companies don't want any competition -- which

might actually force them to offer lower prices, higher speeds and

service to rural and urban areas.

 

U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) -- a former telephone company

executive -- has introduced a bill (HR 2726) that would let cable and

telecom companies shut down municipal and community efforts to offer

broadband services.

 

You can stop this outrageous bill. Send a message to your

representative now.

 

Next, forward this message to everyone you know ...

 

No less than the future of all communications is at stake. In a few

years, television, telephone, radio and the Web will be accessed

through a high-speed internet connection. Low-cost alternatives to

telephone (DSL) and cable monopolies are emerging across the country,

as cities, towns, nonprofits and community groups build low-cost

" Community Internet " and municipal broadband systems.

 

Companies like SBC, Verizon and Comcast have been introducing laws

state by state that would prohibit municipal broadband, undercut local

control and prevent competition. But we've been fighting back -- and

winning.

 

An alliance of public interest groups, local officials, high-tech

innovators and organized citizens have defeated anti-municipal

broadband measures in nine of the 13 states where they've been

introduced this year.

 

What the industry couldn't pass in the states, they're trying to push

through in Washington. Sessions' bill -- the " Preserving Innovation in

Telecom Act " (an Orwellian title if there ever was one) -- would

prevent state and local governments from providing " any

telecommunications service, information service or cable service "

anywhere a corporation offers a similar service.

 

Congressman Sessions worked for telephone giant SBC for 16 years, and

his wife currently serves as a director of Cingular Wireless, an SBC

subsidiary. SBC and its employees have been Sessions' second-biggest

career patron, pouring more than $75,000 into his campaign coffers.

 

We can stop this legislation and send a clear message to Congress that

local communities -- not the giant telephone and cable companies --

should determine their own communications needs. But you must act now.

 

Please send a letter opposing HR 2726 -- and forward this message to

everyone you know, asking them to do the same.

 

Onward,

 

Josh Silver

Executive Director

Free Press

www.freepress.net

 

P.S. For all of the latest news on Community Internet and municipal

broadband, visit the Free Press Web site at

www.freepress.net/communityinternet.

 

P.P.S. Want to get more involved in bringing Community Internet to your

hometown? Join the Free Press Action Squad at

www.freepress.net/action/squad/signup.php.

 

 

 

Mark Hull-Richter, U.S. Citizen & Patriot

U.S.A. - From democracy to kakistocracy in one fell coup.

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0416-01.htm

http://verifiedvoting.org http://blackboxvoting.org

 

 

 

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