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Internet Freedom

 

What's New

A Chance To Extend Broadband

Because of the digital transition set for February, powerful airwaves that were once locked down by the television broadcasters will be freed up for potential broadband Internet access where it’s currently too expensive to build broadband lines. Powerful telecommunication companies don’t want to give up the airwaves, even though they have no plans to use it. U.S. PIRG has been working to encourage the FCC and Congress to make sure that we use this resource to bring access to more Americans.

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. U.S. PIRG is working to make sure that future is realized.




Rep. Ed Markey (Mass.) speaks on the dangers of ending net neutrality. The Internet is threatened by telecommunications giants who seek to become the gatekeepers with the ability to dictate who can use the Internet, for what purpose, and at what cost.

News

FCC Victory for Supporters of Internet Freedom

U.S. PIRG and coalition partners fought to highlight Internet Freedom abuses and won a victory at the FCC on a complaint authored by coalition partner Free Press. The FCC stood up for Internet freedom investigating Comcast’s throttling of Internet users and ordering Comcast to cease and desist. Read more.


Resource

Letter to Congress Urging Their Support for Expanding Affordable Broadband Internet Access (10/21/2008)

To find out the latest news on our campaign for coast-to-coast broadband access visit our coalition's Web site at www.internetforeveryone.org.

To find out the latest news on Internet neutrality, as well as where your senator stands on the issue, please visit our coalition's Web site www.savetheinternet.com.

U.S. PIRG and coalition partners urged the FCC to allow for wireless broadband. Read our letter.



 

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