is this true?

ALF

SURE!?
Location
Taylorsville
As you know, I almost never reach out to you personally with a request to get involved in a debate in the U.S. Congress. However, today I feel I must.

Right now, the telephone and cable companies in control of Internet access are trying to use their enormous political muscle to dramatically change the Internet. It might be hard to believe, but lawmakers in Washington are seriously debating whether consumers should be free to use the Internet as they want in the future.

Join me by clicking here -- http://www.ebaymainstreet.com/netneutrality -- to send a message to your representatives in Congress.

The phone and cable companies now control more than 95% of all Internet access. These large corporations are spending millions of dollars to promote legislation that would allow them to divide the Internet into a two-tiered system.

The top tier would be a "Pay-to-Play" high-speed toll-road restricted to only the largest companies that can afford to pay high fees for preferential access to the Net.

The bottom tier -- the slow lane -- would be what is left for everyone else. If the fast lane is the information "super-highway," the slow lane will operate more like a dirt road.

Today's Internet is an incredible open marketplace for goods, services, information and ideas. We can't give that up. A two-lane system will restrict innovation because start-ups and small companies -- the companies that can't afford the high fees -- will be unable to succeed, and we'll lose out on the jobs, creativity and inspiration that come with them.

The power belongs with Internet users, not the big phone and cable companies. Let's use that power to send as many messages as possible to our elected officials in Washington. Please join me by clicking here right now to send a message to your representatives in Congress before it is too late. You can make the difference.

Thank you for reading this note. I hope you'll make your voice heard today.

Sincerely,

Meg Whitman
President and CEO
eBay Inc.

P.S. If you have any questions about this issue, please contact us at government_relations@ebay.com.
 

78mitsu

Registered User
Yes, But it'll never happen, the internet is collective anarchy you can't contol it. It would cost literally trillions to put in place the plan proposed to monitor and track, filter every packet.
 

Spork

Tin Foil Hat Equipped
78mitsu said:
Yes, But it'll never happen, the internet is collective anarchy you can't contol it. It would cost literally trillions to put in place the plan proposed to monitor and track, filter every packet.
They are already watching... I've already said too much :spork:
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
Yes, it's a real issue. Companies like Comcast and Quest want to charge other online companies like Google in order to be a priority through their (isp) networks. So, what if sites like ours (RME) can't afford to pay the priority payment... well then our site either doesn't load or loads VERY slowly for users under those certain ISPs. This is bad, and unfair.

Keep the net free! Net neutrality!!!!
 
78mitsu said:
Yes, But it'll never happen, the internet is collective anarchy you can't contol it. It would cost literally trillions to put in place the plan proposed to monitor and track, filter every packet.

Yes it's true, and the cost is the entire point. The telecoms are having to invest billions to continually upgrade and improve the infrastructure that the Internet runs on. They want to be able to decide how it's used, and how they can charge users for different levels of service. It's very real, and it could definitely happen. It probably will someday.
 

Bone Down

Well-Known Member
could be legit, I am still looking into it myself as I have not received it yet and there was nothing in my ebay inbox about this either.

one link so far and nothing on the hoaxes sites yet either.
 

Meat_

Banned
Location
Lehi
It could happen, might not too. Either way I don't really care. If it does happen I'll tell them all to f off and maybe actually start spending most of my time outside again... like I used to.
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
Got a response from Chris Cannon. :cool:

Dear Shane:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the important issue of Net Neutrality. I appreciate your letter, and it is a pleasure to respond.

Currently in Congress there is a heated debate as to whether or not legislation should be enacted to prevent phone and cable companies from charging for preferential network access. As you may know, "Net Neutrality" refers to the idea that access to the Internet should be on a free and open basis for all.

The Internet continues to be a vital source of economic growth. The idea of a free and open Internet is what has allowed it to prosper and flourish into the fertile breeding ground of innovation it is today. It is my belief that Congress should stay out of the way of innovation and allow the Internet to continue to grow without the restrictive hands of over-regulation and control. For this reason I voted in favor of HR 5417, the Internet Freedom and Non-Discrimination Act, and for an amendment on the House floor that strengthens the anti-trust laws against those who attempt to degrade or impede legitimate Internet content.

In my time in Congress, I have led the way in keeping the Internet free of taxes and have always been a proponent of its ability to launch and sustain businesses of all sizes, but mainly small businesses. In addition, I am a cosponsor of HR 1684, the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act of 2005, a bill that would make permanent the ban on state taxation of Internet access, to make sure your email is never taxed, and that you will not be taxed on your connection to your Internet service provider.

I am proud of the fact that Utah is one of the nation's technological leaders, and I assure you I will vote to protect Utahns in their freedom of choice in their Internet access and that I will fight for the founding principles that have made the Internet the success it is today.

Again, I sincerely thank you for writing me on this important issue. Please feel free to contact me in the future with any issues that concern you. For information on legislation currently in Congress, please visit www.chriscannon.house.gov

Warmest regards,

Chris Cannon
Member of Congress
 

Crinco

Well-Known Member
Location
Heber
I can't speak for others here, but it looks like he is voting the direction I would like him to, at least on these issues. I wouldn't think anyone would be in favor of any taxes related to Email or the Internet.
Thanks for sharing that Shane.
 
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