AETHERPHON, global theremin family

This is David Vesel. I am co-owner of <a 
href="http://www.cygnusradio.com">Cygnus Radio</a>. I have been on the 
Internet for 18 years, worked in the IT industry for 11 years, and have 
taught IT for the last 5 years. I am not given to hyperbole and I know 
an urban legend when I see it. This is not an urban legend, it is real, 
(verified true by Snopes.com, the Urban Legends Reference Pages) and it 
is important that anyone who uses the Internet to access alternative 
sources of media, entertainment, and news be aware of and act upon this 
very grave issue.

The issue is network neutrality. Simply put, it means that all Internet 
traffic is treated the same. No net data is unfairly boosted up or 
slowed down. You get your Internet data the same as everyone else. We 
take this for granted.

The Telecommunications Act is being overhauled, which happens every 10 
years or so. The new version being worked on is the Stevens 
Telecommunication Act (S.2686).

It's passed the House, and being battled in the Senate, and most people 
don't know a thing about it, or that they're even talking about it.

One of the things the big telecom companies -- the ones who own the 
Internet infrastructure -- want to do is eliminate the net neutrality rules.

Net neutrality means the same as the old "common carrier" rules of the 
phone system. All traffic is treated the same. Whether you're IBM or 
Bob's Computer Shop, Yahoo or a blog, Clear Channel Communications 
WXJQXQJZ superglobal radio or Cygnus Radio.

They want the right to let customers pay more for higher priority on 
Internet delivery of their content. I'm sure to some of you it sounds 
reasonable, perhaps even fair. Which is why it's so dangerous and the 
threat to your Internet choices is so grave.

What does this mean to you? Well, it means that:

* If your ISP is AT&T and they have a deal with Yahoo, you'll get crappy 
connections to Google. The CEO of AT&T is on record saying that they 
should be able to do this.
* If your ISP sells Internet phone service, they could cut off your 
ability to buy competing Internet phone service, such as Vonage. Shaw 
Communications in Canada is already doing this.
* If you have a complaint with an ISP, they could block your ability to 
speak on it. AOL has already done this once, blocking e-mails that 
mentioned a web site critical of them. Telus Communications in Canada 
has already done this, blocking its employees' union's web site during a 
work dispute.

It also means many sinister things that incumbent, moneyed media 
interests are just dying to have a crack at:

* Microsoft could buy up enough "priority" to bring Linux web sites to a 
crawl.
* Major news corporations could buy up enough "priority" to choke off 
political bloggers.
* The music industry could buy up enough "priority" to choke off any 
music file type they didn't approve of (under the guise of "stopping 
illegal downloading"
* Heck, not just little people. They could choke off your connection to 
Apple iTunes.
* The broadcast industry could buy up enough "priority" to render Cygnus 
Radio and every other indie net radio station into a useless stuttering, 
buffering, lo-fi joke.

This isn't an urban legend. It isn't a net rumor. It is a bill in 
Congress. It is the Stevens Telecommunications Act and if it passes, the 
Internet as we know it is in grave danger of becoming just another 
spoonfed blotch of pablum carefully prepared by the Fortune 500. Just 
like the record companies that make up the RIAA. Just like Clear Channel 
Communications and generica radio. Just like a big bunch of reasons why 
you're bothering to visit this web site in the first place.

What can you do?

First, get educated. Visit <a 
href="http://www.savetheinternet.com">http://www.savetheinternet.com</a>, 
the web site of a consortium of organizations who are trying to get this 
thing shot down. They're tracking the public stances of Senators, and 
it's splitting on party lines.

Second, write or phone your Congresscritter. Tell them that you want the 
level playing field we have now and to modify the Stevens 
Telecommunications Act (S.2686) to make net neutrality permanent in law. 
A handwritten, snail-mailed letter is best, phone OK but not as good. 
E-mail is useless, don't bother e-mailing them. That's not how they 
track things. This is the only way to really influence your Congresscritter.

Third, if your Senator is on the Senate Commerce Committee, further ask 
them to revive the Snowe-Dorgan Net Neutrality Amendment (S.2917). This 
would permanently enshrine in law the even playing field we now enjoy.

Third, tell everyone you know who uses the Internet, and especially 
anyone who uses Linux, listens to net radio, or listens to music not 
catered to by the major labels. They, and you, have the most to lose 
from this.

The Senate is our best shot at stopping this. It has already passed the 
House. It is real. It is not a rumor. It is not an urban legend. It is 
the Stevens Telecommunications Act, S. 2686.

If you've never taken an action to contact your government before, now 
would be a great time to start. This issue matters to you as an Internet 
user.


Sincerely yours,
David L. Vessell (my real name)
co-owner, <a href="http://www.cygnusradio.com">Cygnus Radio</a>
owner, <a href="http://www.purplenote.com">Purple Note Multimedia</a>
<a href="mailto:davidv@...">davidv@...</a>
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DAVID VESEL -- synthetic music for humans
http://davidv.purplenote.com
porphyrous@...
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The Purple Note Radio Network:
Escape From Noise, vocal electronica, 10PM Sats http://efn.purplenote.com
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