Duke Schempp: Network Neutrality

To the Editor:

On November 30th, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote a letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski and urged the Federal Communications Commission to act on the issue of network neutrality by the end of this year. Dorgan has been a long time advocate of Network Neutrality, however, his position appears to be shifting. That would be disastrous for North Dakotans.

Dorgan, has in the past, committed to determining the FCC’s proper role in maintaining Network Neutrality. In June, Cindy Gomez, editor of the High Plains Reader and myself, representing the People’s Press Project and independent media in North Dakota, attended the Consumers Union Activist Summit in Washington D.C. We visited with Dorgan’s office to lobby on the issue of Network Neutrality and an open and accessible Internet. Dorgan’s office assured us that he would work hard to preserve the Internet for North Dakota; keeping it in the hands of consumers, open, democratic, and affording people the opportunity for self-representation in media and on the web.

In a sudden and inexplicable turn, Dorgan’s joint letter gives the Chairman wiggle-room and allows the FCC to have political cover. This is not acceptable, and a total reversal on the Senator’s promise to fight for net neutrality.

On December 21 the FCC will vote on the issue of Net Neutrality and other policy issues that will affect our Internet Freedom and Broadband Access. The people of North Dakota need Dorgan to stand up for Internet Freedom and hold the FCC accountable to preserving the basic communication rights of all people in this Country, rather than catering to powerful and greedy corporations that simply want to use the Internet to benefit themselves at the consumers expense. Make sure that he keeps his promise to the people of the state. Call his office and urge him to keep his word—and protects the freedom of the Internet. Dorgan’s staff can be contacted through is Fargo office at 701-239-5389.

-Duke Schempp
Moorhead

Editor’s note: the writer is the organizer of The People’s Press Project.