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).
