Thanks for preparing these Lawrence... for those who don't know, Lawrence is an attorney working with us on making sure we are using global best practices and the latest insight in protecting users' intellectual property. The most important line in the terms of use is that "You own your information, and maintain a copyright in all your Postings on this site."

Please do read through these terms and then post any feedback - Lawrence will appreciate the help and any concerns will be addressed. Through this process, REALNEO will become very informative on IP issues and rights, building insight we all need these days. Your thoughts?

There are many reasons to be concerned about US government policy toward internet access - we are lagging behind other developed countries in % and rate of connectedness. Like with everything else that has happened in Washington the past 6 years, we will need to restructure telecommunications policy after Bush is out of office - I'm confident that between new leadership and new technology we will keep the Internet free and open to the public in America and eventually Americans will catch up with peers in the developed world. Fortunately, new global wireless technology and expansive communications infrastructure, evolving networking protocols and computing standards and free and open-source software have placed all information technology beyond the grip of regulators, and the global economy has rendered USA a participant rather than leader of the information revolution. So, don't worry about AT &T and Verizon and Comcast any more than usual.

After further reading, perhaps we do have much to fear about this issue right now... from a site titled "Save the Internet: The Treat is Real"...:

How would the gutting of Network Neutrality affect you?

• Google users—Another search engine could pay dominant Internet providers like AT&T to guarantee the competing search engine opens faster than Google on your computer.
• Innovators with the “next big idea”—Startups and entrepreneurs will be muscled out of the marketplace by big corporations that pay Internet providers for dominant placing on the Web. The little guy will be left in the “slow lane” with inferior Internet service, unable to compete.
• Ipod listeners—A company like Comcast could slow access to iTunes, steering you to a higher-priced music service that it owned.
• Political groups—Political organizing could be slowed by a handful of dominant Internet providers who ask advocacy groups to pay “protection money” for their websites and online features to work correctly.
• Nonprofits—A charity’s website could open at snail-speed, and online contributions could grind to a halt, if nonprofits can’t pay dominant Internet providers for access to “the fast lane” of Internet service.
• Online purchasers—Companies could pay Internet providers to guarantee their online sales process faster than competitors with lower prices—distorting your choice as a consumer.
• Small businesses and tele-commuters—When Internet companies like AT&T favor their own services, you won’t be able to choose more affordable providers for online video, teleconferencing, Internet phone calls, and software that connects your home computer to your office.
• Parents and retirees—Your choices as a consumer could be controlled by your Internet provider, steering you to their preferred services for online banking, health care information, sending photos, planning vacations, etc.
• Bloggers—Costs will skyrocket to post and share video and audio clips—silencing citizen journalists and putting more power in the hands of a few corporate-owned media outlets.

Blocking Innovation

Corporate control of the Web would reduce your choices and stifle the spread of innovative and independent ideas that we’ve come to expect online. It would throw the digital revolution into reverse. Internet gatekeepers are already discriminating against Web sites and services they don’t like:

• In 2004, North Carolina ISP Madison River blocked their DSL customers from using any rival Web-based phone service.
• In 2005, Canada’s telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a contentious labor dispute.
• Shaw, a major Canadian cable TV company, is charging an extra $10 a month to subscribers who want to use a competing Internet telephone service.
• In April, Time Warner’s AOL blocked all emails that mentioned www.dearaol.com — an advocacy campaign opposing the company’s pay-to-send e-mail scheme.

This is just the beginning. Cable and telco giants want to eliminate the Internet’s open road in favor of a tollway that protects their status quo while stifling new ideas and innovation. If they get their way, they’ll shut down the free flow of information and dictate how you use the Internet.

Excellent video, Martha. This certainly gets the point across.

Lawrence Dempsey wrote the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use - I'm not sure how many hours it took but I expect he'll see your comment and give us some details. He did write rather than copy this so it is unique, and he looks forward to feedback so let him know if you have any questions or comments - post here or email him at lawrence [at] realinks [dot] us

Thank you for your comments and insights--I agree.