the daily dub

As you probably know, the Internet was originally a research project, designed to allow global academic collaboration (NSFNet, created 1 January 1983). As it currently stands, the internet is defined by it’s bi- or multi-lateral commercial contracts (peering agreements). According to Internet World Stats (www.internetworldstats.com), over 1 billion people currently use the internet; that’s an amazing amount of potential world-wide collaboration.

These people who use the internet are not just americans — they come from all over the world to collaborate, and expand the world-wide body of human knowledge.

According to an International Herald Tribune Article, the Bush Administration has stated “in July that the United States would ‘maintain its historic role in authorizing changes or modifications to the authoritative root zone file.’ In so doing, the government ‘intends to preserve the security and stability’ of the technical underpinnings of the Internet.” However, handing over control of the internet to corporations would do just the opposite to the administration’s stated goals.

By allowing ISPs to force users to pay more for better speeds, we end up with a network of Haves and Have-Nots. Trouble is, those have-nots may include the Next Big Thing — whether it be a mom-and-pop shop, the next eBay, or the discoverers of Hydrogen Power. The fewer innovative services on the Net, the less reason Web users have to want broadband. Both the network operators and the Internet lose out in the end.

I urge you to reconsider your loyalties, and know that I, as a voting constituent, will be following this closely.