U. S. Senator Mark Udall responds to my letter urging him to support Net Neutrality and help the FCC in reversing recent legislation:
"February 18, 2014
Dear Sean,
Thank you for contacting me regarding issues relating to "net neutrality." I appreciate that you took the time to share your specific views on this issue.
The principle behind "net neutrality" is based on the notion that network providers of Internet access should not detrimentally control how consumers use the Internet, nor should they be able to discriminate by providing different network access for one type of content or content provider over another. I support the principle of "net neutrality" because I believe that Internet subscribers should not be denied or have limited access to the content of their choice because of the commercial interests of their service providers. I do, however, believe that reasonable network management should be permitted when necessary. That said, I have always believed our telecommunication laws must support a competitive market that provides the most options to consumers at affordable prices.
As your Senator, I will continue to monitor the FCC's implementation of their regulations and will work with my colleagues - from both parties - to ensure that the laws regulating Internet providers strike the right balance between competition within the marketplace and protecting consumer choice. Please know that your thoughts will provide me important guidance along the way.
I will remain attentive to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not merely about supporting or opposing legislation, but also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.
Warm regards,
Mark Udall
U.S. Senator, Colorado"
I do appreciate Senator Udall (and his office) responding. From the handful of letters I sent out, he is the only one to reply thus far.
While I ultimately do not have a lot of faith in my words having an impact, especially against all of the dollars that lobbyists are throwing at this issue, I do hope that they become buried in the subconscious of our leaders. I hope the voice of the people gnaws at them in their sleep and they make decisions based on honor, virtue, and justice regardless of politics and posturing… I hope.
I'm glad that Senator Udall is aware of Net Neutrality and has an opinion on the issue. I'm glad that he somewhat agrees with the principles of Net Neutrality and says he will protect the consumer above the commercial interests of internet service providers.
However, as per usual political rhetoric, he was also ambiguous and left the door wide open to "support the market" which would mean the ISP's and them driving towards capitalization of bandwidth.
I believe there needs to be much more compromise in our government, however our right to freely access information and our personal freedom within the digital world is not a compromisable situation. Compromising any civil digital rights would be the beginning of digital Jim Crow Laws, though instead of segregating the internet by race it would be by money.
