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Internet Freedom

 

What's New

New report

U.S. PIRG just released A Public Interest Internet Agenda, a new report which prescribes broadband policy solutions that are tied to the common good and our prosperity.

Connecting every citizen to the Internet at broadband speed is the key to economic development, improved healthcare and education, energy efficiency, robust democracy and open government. Click here or the image below to get your copy.

Congress Ready to Preserve Network Neutrality

On July 31st 2009, Reps. Markey and Eshoo introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 3458). This bill, will codify the ruling principles of non-discrimination and openness on the Internet. It will also give government the power to punish Internet service providers (ISPs) who throttle access to websites.  

Setting Wireless Free

In August the Federal Communications Commission began an inquiry into AT&T and Apple’s blocking of applications to the iPhone. This inquiry exposed how AT&T and other giant telecom companies in the cellphone market have forced handset makers deny innovative applications that could help lower the cost of service to consumers. U.S. PIRG is working with coalition partners to bring antidiscrimination principles to cellphones, unlock handsets, eliminate unfair fees and open the market to competition.

Protecting the Digital Consumer

This fall Congress will begin to draft a bill to protect consumer privacy in the online marketplace. People increasingly rely on the Internet for a wide range of transactions and services, many of which involve their health, finances, and other sensitive matters. We’re working with Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to reign in invasive data collection, abusive or discriminatory online tracking and to strengthen privacy protections for online consumers.

How You Can Help

Urge your legislator to support the Internet Freedom Preservation Act

This bill will protect the Internet against unfair filtering, throttling and discrimination of content. To prevent this bill from passing the big phone and cable companies have hired over 500 lobbyists to stop this bill. Call your member of Congress to protect the public interest, support an open Internet and co-sponsor the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 3458).

How You Can Help

Broadband Internet: Coast-to-coast

Tell the FCC that it’s critical that every corner of America have access to a fair and open broadband Internet and that they must take steps to extend, enhance and protect access to the Internet.

 



Overview

To be competitive in a global economy our nation must have access to high-speed Internet (Broadband). In the last century, our government, recognizing the importance of telephone access, made a commitment to bring phone service from coast to coast.

Today’s challenge for government: commit to extending fair and open broadband Internet access from coast to coast.

In all educational settings, elementary through university, access to online video, audio and text resources is a must-have. As technology improves, our workforce must be able to take advantage of new technology. But for our country as a whole to obtain the full economic benefits of new technology jobs or gain access to higher education, we’ve got to have a broadband infrastructure that is available to everyone in country.

Twenty million Americans live in areas with no access to broadband Internet and hundreds of millions more have only one provider. However, Congress and the FCC still have the opportunity to mandate a comprehensive plan to connect the country with fair and open broadband Internet access. U.S.PIRG has partnered with a diverse coalition of concerned organizations to urge government to extend access to a fair and open broadband Internet.

To preserve a robust economic future, every American must have fair and open access to the tools of a global information economy: broadband Internet. OSPIRG is working to make sure that future is realized.



OSPIRG’s Laura Etherton presents Sen. Wyden with a stack of supportive petitions at an Internet freedom news conference held at Powell’s books in Portland.

 

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