Help me with a net neutrality letter!

[SpongeBuell]

I probably won't bother sending it to my representatives, since the House just passed a bill that would defeat net neutrality (which reminds me, I need to find the official name of the bill and mention it, so he knows what to look for)

Thanks a lot, anubis, that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for

[SpongeBuell]

[quote]Dear Senator Coleman,

My name is SpongeBuell. I am XX years old, and am getting more and more interested in politics. I also use computers often, and have lately heard about something called “Network neutrality.â€

[anubis]

thumbs up!

[Skyone]

If you would like to learn more about network neutrality, please check out these links:

*AHEM*

If you would like to learn more about network neutrality, view the following:

[SpongeBuell]

Eeep, I thought I changed that

will edit both post and letter

[SpongeBuell]

Holy schmokes! I sent it last night around midnight or so to both senators, and already got as much of an individual response as a guy could hope for:

Thank you for contacting me regarding network neutrality, a principle
which would ensure that all content over the Internet, no matter where it
comes from or where it goes, be treated equally.
The debate in Congress over network neutrality is whether this industry
needs specific regulations that preserve that principle. Internet
operators or providers, such as telephone and cable companies that offer
access to the Internet, want the right to charge Internet content
providers, such as Google and MySpace.com, certain rates for certain
speeds of content, video for example, on their web sites.
The Internet content providers argue this is discriminatory and
anticompetitive and would suppress free speech. They also argue that the
high cost would make it impossible for new Internet content providers to
survive. On the other hand, the telephone and cable companies argue that
consumers alone should not have to bear the cost of infrastructure that's
needed to provide high-speed access to the Internet and its content.
Legislation – S. 2686 and S. 2917 – has been introduced in the Senate to
address network neutrality. Should either Bill come to the Senate floor,
I will keep your views in mind.
Thank you for taking the time to be in touch with me. Please contact me
again, if I can be of assistance in any way.

My best regards.

Sincerely,


Mark Dayton
United States Senator

Ok, so I think his assistant probably looked at it briefly, realized it was about net neutrality, and sent me a generic net neutrality response. Even still, it's not a bad start

[G-force]

Cool! Even if it is a generic response, you're doing your part for the good of the internet. Be proud.

[SpongeBuell]

another likely-generic response, but a response nonetheless (and a favorable one! )

Dear Mr. Sponge :



Thank you for taking the time to contact me concerning Internet neutrality.



Like you, I recognize the importance of making broadband Internet available to all of Minnesota through fair and open competition.

On February 7, 2006, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on Internet neutrality. Broadband providers, as well as application and content providers and telecommunications, experts testified before the Committee. At the hearing, broadband providers argued against Internet neutrality contending that application and content providers need to also assume the costs associated with providing broadband access. Application and content providers meanwhile advocated for Internet neutrality claiming that such neutrality enables consumers not broadband providers to choose among the various Internet content and application offerings.

Separately, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued Internet neutrality principles. The FCC does not believe that regulations are currently necessary.

Please know that I will continue to follow this important issue and look forward to reviewing the Committee's work. I value your advice and will take it into consideration should any Internet neutrality related legislation come before the full Senate for a vote.

As a member of the Republican High-Tech Task force, I have been working closely on broadband related issues. For instance I introduced the Rural Renaissance II Act of 2005 (S. 1253) to support rural economic development. This bill would provide rural America loans and grants to rebuild and update its infrastructure, including high speed Internet, which is necessary to attract new residents and businesses. This legislation is now included in the Senate's version of the Tax Relief Act of 2005 bill, which the Senate passed on November 18, 2005, and is in a conference committee with the House of Representatives.


You may also be interested to know that I am also a cosponsor of S. 1294, the Community Broadband Act of 2005. This legislation would allow municipalities to offer Internet broadband services, so long as they abide by state and federal telecommunications laws and do not discriminate against private competitors. S. 1294 has been referred to the Commerce Committee where it awaits further action.

I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you.



Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

[gannon]

To quote a letter I got back from my state's Rep.

Dear (insert gannon's true identity here):

Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of net neutrality. I appreciate hearing from you and this opportunity to respond to your concerns.

As a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee assigned to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, I have the unique opportunity to help shape our nation's telecommunications and Internet laws that will drive our 21st Century economy.

Essential in promoting these new Internet applications is preserving the principle of Internet neutrality, or net neutrality. To keep the Internet an open and innovative platform, I support legislation to ensure that all content on the Internet--no matter where it comes from, no matter where it goes--is treated equally.

Congress debated the issue of net neutrality as part of a wider telecommunications bill, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006 (HR 5252). The COPE Act, in part, would codify principles on net neutrality adopted by the Federal Communications Commision (FCC) in August 2005. These principles said:

• Consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice;
• Consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement;
• Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not hard the network; and,
• Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.

That's just the first page (don't feel like typing the 2nd yet)