The Net Neutrality Act: Stop it in its tracks

In our latest issue of CameraArts, publisher Tim Anderson has weighed in on an important topic that has a lot of web-based entrepreneurs concerned: The Net Neutrality Act. Photographers who rely on the online marketplace make up a considerable hunk of those who oppose the act. Tim had this to say:

"Today, what (telephone companies) and cable providers want is to be able to control the Internet, and charge even more than we are paying at this time. According to the reporters on the Moyers program, they want to be able to control the traffic, where it goes and how. The analogy of a two-lane highway was used to explain that if Congress continues to work from a “blind-eye” angle on this subject, then the telcos would be able to select, for example only, eBay to get a “fast” lane, and Google only to get to use the “slow” lane. Of course, I am paraphrasing the subject, but my point is that if the telcos/cable providers and Congress continue to go in the direction they are moving, then we small businesses (us little guys, again), as well as the every-day consumer, will get the proverbial shaft. Please go to PBS’s site to find out more about this timely and VERY important subject.

"As photographers, most of us use the Internet on a regular basis. We send both low- and hi-resolution images across the country, and even, in some cases, around the world. As a publisher, CameraArts is delivered to our printer via the Internet as well. Without free and open access to this utility, it would be very difficult to publish this magazine. Most of the staff of CameraArts is scattered throughout the country, from New York to Albuquerque to Portland (Oregon) to Maine. At the present time, the U.S. is currently tenth in the world, when it comes to Internet speed.

"Several towns around the country have set up their own Internet, much to the anguished consternation of the telcos, who, of course, are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to fight this issue. I only bring this to your attention because those of us who use this wonderful tool, the Internet, would like it to remain “net neutral,” free, open, and available for everyone to use."

Moveon.org also has a petition to keep this act from passing into law as written. You can check it out here.