A Tiered Internet?
Host | 20 June 2006 | 3 Reviews »
Looking at HR 5252
The Internet today is inarguably the best source of free information exchange on the planet. Anyone with a computer or access to a public library/internet café can find virtually anything they need; from news and merchandise, to vast amounts of information, and, of course, vacations, travel destinations, and lodging.
Our Senate, however, is rapidly approaching a date when it could vote to change Internet as we know it. The Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006 (HR 5252) would allow the major telecoms and cable companies to control the Internet and create a tiered system of browsing. Under the tiered system, companies who want to be on Tier 1 would pay the telecoms and cable companies to make sure their site is easily accessed and loads at the fastest speeds. Tier 2 websites would pay less and, therefore, experience a slower load time. This increased load time could prevent people, accustomed to lightning-fast speeds, from seeing these sites. Sadly, a small website unable to pay large sums of money to insure speedy access, could be lost totally.
“Net Neutrality” describes our current internet structure. The speed at which a website loads is based solely on the viewer’s own modem and Internet connection. From the tiny obscure booty-knitting website of your grandma in Osceola, to the mega-giants of the Internet such as Amazon.com and Google, any website can be reached whenever, wherever, and just as quickly, regardless of funding or content. This may all change.
Blizzard Internet Marketing would like to weigh in on this issue, much the same as Google has done on this help page. As you know, the hospitality industry is heavily reliant upon the internet to generate customers. It goes without saying that in addition to altering the very structure of the internet as we know it, HR 5252, as it stands right now, would have financial implications for businesses; it’d be particularly hard on smaller businesses trying to stay competetive.
We kindly request that those who share our position take action as soon as possible. Tell the Senate to implement safeguards (amendments to the COPE Act) that require broadband providers to treat all Internet traffic the same, thereby prohibit tiering schemes and enforcing “Net Neutrality”, when it’s time to vote on HR 5252. You can go to ItsOurNet.com to send an e-mail to your Senators, sign a petition at FreePress.net, or click here to find your Senators’ phone numbers so you can give them a call. Do not let Congress stifle our freedom of finding the information we want, when we want it. Urge them to keep Net Neutrality a reality.
Mary Cleator – Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.
June 20th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
This bill has already been passed in the House of Representatives and is on its way to the Senate. I really hope this does not get implemented. It would have a huge impact on the way I currently use the internet. The majority of my use is reading news sites and forums that are almost exclusively non-profit organizations that would not have the funding to exist in a tiered internet scheme.
Very informative article, I hope people read this and take action.
June 21st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Very Informative Article Mary, thank you so much for all the information. This could potentially effect many of our clients. Let’s hope enough action is taken and this bill does not pass the Senate
June 24th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Mary, thank you for such an important informative article. It’s great that people like yourself exist to keep us informed. I am today, writing my protest and making aware to all my friends and business associates, this article. Great Job!