IP Democracy: Net Neutrality Advocates Finally Start Mobilizing

After a fumbling kick-off, net neutrality advocates are finally getting into position, with a noticeable ramp-up in political organizing. First, CNET’s Anne Broache has this item about how the AARP is weighing in on the pro-net neutrality side of the debate.

The group that represents older Americans is not, at first blush, a prime constituency for this issue. Still, the AARP believes it has a stake in keeping the Internet open and free of potential broadband provider interference.

“We’re not traditionally someone who would be involved in technology legislation and things of that nature, but this has a direct impact on our members and their lifestyles,” said AARP spokesman Mark Kitchens.

The AARP may not be a logical water-carrier, but it is part of a clearly organized coalition of seventy companies, organizations and interest groups that sent a letter to the Senate Commerce committee yesterday advocating the inclusion of net neutrality provisions in upcoming telecom reform legislation (something that Committee Co-Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) seems reluctant to do).

In the letter, signed by a wide range of companies, including Adobe, Amazon, EarthLink, Google, Travelocity, Yahoo and Skype, and a broad array of organizations, including the Consumer Electronics Association, Public Knowledge, Consumer Federation of America and the American Associatin of Libraries, the coalition argued for net neutrality measures.

While it is appropriate for Congress to develop new legislation to promote competition among broadband networks, it must also ensure that consumers and providers continue to have the right to use those networks to send and receive content, and to use applications and services, without interference by network operators. As Internet pioneer Vint Cerf said, the Internet is, and must remain, “innovation without permission.”

Someone, or some group of companies, on the pro-net neutrality side of this issue has gotten wise to the ways of Washington — this kind of coalition-building, however hokey, is quite effective — and is clearly willing to spend some cash to more effectively lobby Congress. The organizer of the coalition is strategic communications and grassroots company Qorvis Communications, which is closely aligned with DC lobbying powerhouse Patton Boggs.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on March 17, 2006 11:37 PM to IP Democracy