There are a number of issues on the administrative table right now concerning control of the internet.
The internet as a medium is reaching the point in its evolution where its utopian vision might be privatized. Now I am personally quite skeptical about the utopian promise of any technology - nonetheless, the worst case scenario of internet privatization would be the spawn of multiple internets, each owned and governed by a different mega-corporation like Verizon or AT&T. This would be much like the rock-solid corporate control over television broadcasting, and the only option for a site like Pinko’s would be the internet equivalent of PBS. I don’t think anyone wants to see that.
So can I be less vague? Yes. There are a few things that are happening this week, for which you yourself can rise to your ancient civic duty and yell slogans at your bureaucratic superiors.
On July 15th, new regulations recently decreed by Ye Olde Copyright Royalty Board shall go into effect. Thereafter, internet radio stations will be forced by law to pay enormous royalties, which will effectively shut down independent internet radio. You can get more information about it here. You can also sign a petition to Congress on that page.
Until July 16th, the FCC is reading the public’s opinions about net neutrality. You can find more information in a glitzy format here. You can also contact the FCC through that site.
It makes sense that this battle would have to be fought. I just hope we win it. A regulated internet would be so terrifying–to rip away our last hope at free and equitable discourse. Everything, all hope of escape or revolution, all antifasciest potential, depends on the internet at this point.
I did call my senators about the internet radio thing. I took literally ten seconds. They don’t need talking points, you just talk to the aide, and just say the line “I want them to co-sponsor the internet radio equality act” and they’ll write it down and that’s that. I think I emailed some of you about it.
Here’s another organization working for the internet radio equality act:
http://www.savenetradio.org/
July 10th, 2007 | #
I don’t want to get off-topic, but I just found this website, which is so incredibly weird I had to share it:
http://www.panopticon.com
It looks like one of those evil companies they make up for futuristic movies.
Then I checked out their clients, and one of them is this:
http://www.dws.com/mena/
…
July 10th, 2007 | #
Looks like we won this small, first battle:
http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2007/07/webcasters_face_music
July 17th, 2007 | #