The development of the Internet and the proliferation of Web-based tools and applications have had a powerful impact on our economy, our culture, civil society and our democratic system. As broadband connectivity has replaced slower means for accessing the Internet, the Web has increasingly delivered a converged, multimedia platform that includes text, images, sound, and video. Individuals, institutions, and communities with access to a fast Internet and new media tools enjoy unprecedented access to global news and information, cultural production and distribution opportunities, and new avenues of influence to the powerful institutions of government. Small businesses can compete against giant corporations, and our economy is driven by heightened creativity and innovation. New communications tools offer promising solutions to problems ranging from environmental degradation and disparities in health care.

When communications technology like broadcast radio and television, cable, and satellite were new, they also promised to deliver new public goods and greater access to the public sphere. History has taught us that all too often, these promises are compromised by powerful special interests and a lack of vigilance on the part of governing officials. To secure an Internet future that delivers on today's promises we must embrace two principles: Digital Inclusion and Network Neutrality.

 

Digital Inclusion

Internet service providers, usually cable and telephone companies,take advantage of limited competition in local broadband markets to lock in high prices and limit their investments to communities they value for offering high financial returns. This has created an environment in which undervalued communities, poor neighborhoods in cities and many rural areas, cannot afford access and the US has slipped to a ranking as the 14th country in the world for broadband deployment.

The "digital divide" is complex and includes many factors - the cost of hardware and Internet access, the education and skills required to take advantage of the ever-changing world of online tools, and the gap between people who feel their participation is valued by society and those who do not.

The industry has demonstrated that without incentives and alternatives, the market will continue to fail the people who need access to new opportunities the most. It is time to call for a comprehensive plan to connect every community in the country to the benefits of the Internet.

 

Network Neutrality

As we fight to make sure everyone can access opportunities online, we also must ensure that the Internet of tomorrow is as open and free as the one we know today.

"Net neutrality" refers to a principle of network design that asserts that, in order to promote innovation, network service providers, such as telephone and cable internet companies, should not be permitted to dictate how those networks are used.

The same companies that limit access to the Internet are also invested in their own content goods and services. They are motivated to limit access to competitor's information and other content and to steer audiences to their own products by slowing down or blocking access to those competitor's online presence.

To ensure that the Internet remains an open, innovative environment that encourages competition, innovation, and free speech, we must fight to make Network Neutrality the guiding principle of the Internet.

To achieve these goals, we support:

• Internet policies that require open access, non-discrimination and universal service build-out.
• Policies that support public efforts to create locally owned and controlled information networks that serve every member of the community, regardless of their financial means.
• Policies that broaden access to the public airwaves by opening up vacant spectrum for unlicensed use.

Want to know more? Great! Check out our Internet policy reading list and learn about Coalition member organizations working on Digital Inclusion and Network Neutrality. (visit soon to read these pages)