Net Neutrality
Brian Clark at Copyblogger defines Net Neutrality in way that we can all understand it.
All of your current Internet marketing plans depend on Net Neutrality. And likely a lot that you do online outside the scope of business depends on it too. Net Neutrality allows everyone to compete on a level playing field and is the reason that the Internet is a force for economic innovation, civic participation and free speech. —The Four Horsemen of the Internet Apocalypse
Why is Brian talking about Net Neutrality?
Because Doc Searls is . . . and so is Jeff Pulver . . . and so am I — on all three of my blogs.
What We’re Saying
You might not know who Doc Searls is, but he’s my Walter Cronkite on issues of the Internet. He reasons with facts, not emotional pleas.
Doc said this last Friday . . .
I am fed up with the current wave of soundbites, platitudes, ads and marketing flooding the airwaves that profess to speak for the advancement of the Internet and communications. These ads are influencing Congress and governments around the World as they write the rules that will shape the future of the Internet and communications.
But, where is the voice and message of the Internet community — the Internet innovators, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts — in this world-changing discussion? —Save It or Lose It
Doc was calling attention to Jeff Pulver’s contest to get people to make messages to Save the Internet.
Here’s what Jeff Pulver had to say . . .
We need soundbites of our own, messaging of our own. We are allegedly the revolutionaries of the Internet and communications. Shouldn’t we be the ones revolutionizing the way advocacy is done and communicated in the 21st Century? Shouldn’t we be the creative forces verifying that the medium is the message? Who better than us . . . to think outside the box to send a message to Congress from the global community of Internet innovators and enthusiasts. . . .
We need to harness your individual genius and our collective genius (for isn’t it the collective power of the Internet that makes it so remarkable?) to save the Internet, and we are willing to pay and give you eternal glory (or at least glory for as long as the Internet lasts). — Help Save OUR Internet!
How could I stand by and say nothing?
I didn’t.
I’ve been enjoying this community so much I’ve hardly paid attention to what’s been happening about the Internet in the real world. I guess I figured that I wasn’t hurting anyone, why would anyone want to hurt me?
That kind of thinking has gotten me in trouble before. . . .
I don’t pick causes or argue my views to others much. I figure folks have their own. They don’t need mine. Still I value what I just described so highly that I cannot stay quiet now.
So hear me whisper this. Some folks don’t care about country stores and communities. They care about pipelines that carry bits and bytes and how much they can charge for that service. . . .
Would you read what I read today by a man named Jeff Pulver? He’s running a contest for ideas to help make people aware. Here are the rules.
I really like our country stores a lot. My life would be less without all of you. —What if WE Go the Way of the Old Country Store?
Just Tell Someone
Brian outlines exactly what is now in front of Congress, and what we might do about it. Brian’s article makes me realize he’s the best journalist I’ve read in the longest while. Go there please.
There are things, easy things, you can do–like post an article that links to Brian’s explanation and Jeff’s Save the Internet Contest. How hard could it be just to let people know?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related articles
Saving the Netââ¬âDoc Searls & Walter Cronkite
Whoââ¬â¢s a Citizen Journalist?
Look Liz, if you are going to give link love get it right. No one likes a broken link. That’s a like a virtual broken heart. And why would you go around intentionally breaking someones heart here on the internet?
Hi Anthony,
Found the broken link. Consider it fixed. Thanks for pointing it out. I hate breaking hearts like that.
Hey Liz,
I hear ya. That’s one reason for starting my PolBlog, to talk of Government interference with the internet.
I’m just a little guy trying to help keep the internet neutral, just like some of the better known Bloggers.
Joe
Hmmm, the outcry seems to be growing from all quarters and snowballing to a tipping point. I just wonder if it’s too little, too late.
I’m not sure a million bloggers strongly advocating keeping the net neutral is going to stop the big guys and congress.
I’ve been following the net neutrality issue for a while now and we’re (us small-timers) in for a big fight here.
This is clearly a case of big business wanting to strangle the small guys and take the internet for themselves (or the highest bidder). And it’s a real threat.
I think in this instance, it’s a case of we need the mainstream media to get on board and start highlighting it.
Heck, why isn’t there a bloggers lobby group or association that can step up to the plate?
This is something that can really kill off the internet for many of us if this gets through – compeition is already hard as it is on the net without us having to play on a non-level playing field.
Hi Joe,
You’re right to talk about. Talk seems to be all we can do.
Martin,
I understand what you’re saying. We’re in the middle of a board game where they have all of the big players and all of the money. We have all of the pawns who can move in only one direction.
It’s DEFINITELY a threat. But how do you the MSM to highlight what they DON’T want to happen?
And how do you organize a bunch ones into group when the ones tend to look at the oganizers as if they are Chicken Little?
I guess what we’re faced with and going through is the evolution of the internet.
Where do we go from here? As much as we like to say that each and everyone of us is a “one” and the mass of “ones” can be a powerful factor online I don’t think it cuts it in the real world (eg: big business / congress).
Do we organize ourselves for self-protection?
Do we need to get more professional as a collective and use lobbying and PR tactics?
As much as I hate the term “A-listers” we do need to get the bunch of them into the one virtual room and on the same page with the one strong message. Add to that the mass of us b,c and d- bloggers and I guess it’s a start.
What next?
Target the big guys behind it? A viral campaign against any company that wil benefit from the changes?
We need to get out thinking hats on.
I wonder whaat would happen if the heads of the networks got together with the A Listers and the folks at Google–who is on the other side. . . . Seems like a fight that would channel some of the energy some guys we know have an abundance of into the right direction . . .
Hey Liz,
“We have all of the pawns who can move in only one direction.”
But a pawn can attack from the one direction as long as it is a forward motion, one forward, one diagonal.
The pawn can even take the King, if it is in the right postion.
Joe
JOE!!!!!
I like how you think. I do indeedy. We need to get some of this thinking into action. And don’t Move On Org me–they just want publicity.–I want ACTION.
Action, ha!
get something like a simple SaveNetNeutrality.org up, go the viral route (I’m sure many would jump on board) and lets attack the King(s) from all sides.
Liz,
I’m going to write an article for each of my Blogs, giving as much link love as possible.
Then I am going to E-mail, the local Philadelphia Inquirer Blogger, and Channel 6 (our ABC affiliate).
Don’t know what steps to take after that, but getting the word to the MSM is important, especially if they think they will Break a Story.
Joe
They would jump on board to do WHAT?
I’ve got it. Can we build a pixel page that says
SAVE NET NEUTRALITY
Something really big. Sothat it makes the media.
That’s a really good idea Joe, Go for it.
well once we educate all that their livelyhood is in jeopardy I think they’d get on board.
pixel page – good lateral thinking there, Liz.
We need an outlandish publicity stunt to gain the attention of the MSM.
A good, solid brainstorming session should do the trick.
Have you heard about Campfire. I’ll do a piece on it later tonight, I offers a place to meet to do just that kind of thing in private.
Liz,
Let us all know when and where, and I’ll be there.
Joe
Hi Joe,
When I know something I’ll be sure that you know too.
Hey Liz,
I did write an E-mail to the Philadelphia Inquirer Blogger Daniel Rubin, and his reply was “check out my post from sunday on this!!”
I did apologize for missing his post, but at least one of the MSM (Blogger) understands.
Here is the link to his post: http://blogs.philly.com/blinq/2006/04/save_the_intern.html#comment-16557298
Anyone can leave a comment, and he will probably respond.
Joe
“As much as I hate the term ââ¬ÅA-listersââ¬? we do need to get the bunch of them into the one virtual room and on the same page with the one strong message. Add to that the mass of us b,c and d- bloggers and I guess itââ¬â¢s a start.”
@ Martin, I wrote and E-mail to Darren Rowse at ProBlogger since most of his readers are from the U.S. just in case he was interested. (And I think he will be).
Joe
Hi Joe,
It’s hard to organize folks who already have their place, but I’ll see whether I can contact a guy I know. Maybe he can pull some folks together. I have a big trade show next week so I’ll see what I can do tonight.
smiles,
Liz
Liz,
Maybe some of th naysayers you know from the MSM, I’m sure they wouldn’t want to be left out. (You know the ones, your wrote more than one article about attitude).
“Better an enemy you know…”
Joe
Joe,
I’m nearly not so powerful as that. They have no reason to
a. listen to me
b. want to support Net Neutrality.
c. get involved in something their employers might not like.
Liz
Liz,
I usually don’t write E-mails to the:
1. newspapers
2. the TV station
3. an A-lister like Darren
I doesn’t hurt to try. It’s gotta start somewhere.
Joe
Yeah, I hear ya.
But I’m going to put my energy where It will have the most impact. Count on that . . . Pay no attention to that Liz behind the curtain
Liz
Besides, if enough of us leave a comment on Daniel’s Blog, since it is a Large Newspaper, there may be follow-up articles. These could be picked up by more major newspapers and other forms of MSM.
The power of the word
Must be heard.
Joe
I really hate cross comments, maybe I should wait for a reply. 🙂
Joe,
Who’s Daniel? I’m not making the connection there.
Keep in mind, I couldn’t get everyone — anyone — to link to Janice. They’re happy to take her help, but through her a link???
Hey Liz, didn’t we start this coversation a while back precisely because maybe the MSM wants neutrality gone?
Just a thought…
That’s quite alright, what were you going to say?
Yeah, I think the MSM wants neutrality gone. So there’s no reason they would want to work to save it. Why do you ask?
Liz,
Daniel is the Philadelphia Inquirer Blog reporter on politics.
I left a link in a previous comment.
Joe
@ Brian, we do need the MSM to get the word to others who may not know what’s happening.
J.
The point is, Joe, just becausr we need them, doesn’t mean that they’ll do it by asking.
We have to do something newsworthy. I think that’s what Brian’s getting to.
I know, Liz, but as I said “it couldn’t hoit”
What we need is exposure, whether is it is through Blogging, MSM, or writing to your Congressperson (which I think is useless) we need to do something.
I know we are talking about it, which I hope gives it some attention, but we have to push NOW.
If we wait, they will have already had a vote, and guess who wins.
Joe
Far better I think to get folks to put time into Jeff Pulver’s contest than to try to persuade folks who don’t want to write about us when we can’t give them a good reason.
We need to come up with a reason FIRST.
I understand your sense of urgency, get people talking and linking to Jeff, and feeling like you do.
I’m working on finding more NOISY IDEAS. So should everyone.
But a newspaper story or two won’t do it we need something like the Guiness Book of World Records meet Jack Bauer wearing Superman pajamas.
I already have links to Jeff’s page, unfortunately, I don’t have all that many readers.
That’s one reason I E-mailed Darren, he has the ability to reach many more people than I.
Joe
Hey, Joe. I’m glad you came back. I was worried I got too passionate there. Sorry.
Emailing any Blogger is a GREAT idea. Though I’m guessing it will get mixed results. It’s the media who won’t pay attention at all.
WE NEED A MILLION DOLLAR HOMEPAGE IDEA!!!
ABOUT NET NEUTRALITY.
Something so compelling the media couldn’t help but cover–Something grown ups and kids would fall in love with.
Jeff has a good idea for exposure to the MSM, but we may need to start some type of petition page.
How do we start something that’s never been done, a petition on the Web?
If it is really successful, it will take a LOT of bandwidth, and other resources. I’m not sure I would even be allowed to do something like that on Blogger.
Anyone have any ideas?
Joe
Go here. 🙂 Click all three links. Don’t let the picture fool you.
Chartreuse’s Save the Net Post
What???
Sorry, Liz, another crossed comment…
No wories. The link didn’t take the first time. It happens. 🙂
OK, Million Dollar Save the Net Page. Who do we give the money to? I almost can’t believe that right and left are cooperating on this issue so far (which is nice), but wait till you try to give the money to MoveOn and see what happens! 🙂
Can’t Give the Money to Move on.
Give the Money to kids who don’t have computers.
or give the money to
GELC –Global Education & Learning Community
for open source curriculum
OK, did anyone else send the petition to 3 friends?
I’m going to update my posts to include the link (not chartreuse’s but the Move on petition).
I like his post, very imaginative, but I am not sure if my readers would get it…
Joe
I agree about your assessment of his post, Joe.
He has a cutting edge music and video blog.
I thought you’d like the link. 🙂
Yes, I did… Every little bit helps, even if it is Brittney Spears…
Joe
I won’t tell if you won’t tell. 🙂
Let’s not forget about this tomorrow…
We all have a bad habit of living in the present, and forget about tomorrow.
‘Nite
Joe
Sweet Dreams
I Support Net Neutrality. I support the internet being Open. ISPs won’t get away with this. If they do I will stop paying the ISPs, and cancel. Thats right money makers im canceling.
You can’t kill the internet ISPs. If you do you destroyed the future, the USA Countries economy, and businesses all over the nation.
I’m not sure that canceling the ISPs is the right idea. Not all of them are the bad guys. Small ISPs will be hurt by what the big guys are doing as well.