by Lauren-Glenn Davitian
From the Guest Editor
Center for Media and Democracy, Community Media Review,
People's Guide to the Telecommunications Act of 2006, pg 11
This editorial gives a brief and succinct introduction to the issues, legal process, and legislation involved in network neutrality. It opens with the proclamation, "the predictions are coming true," citing the FCC's current overhaul of public policy that began in 1934 and has rapidly increased in proportion to the rapid increase in available communications technology. The article continues in this fashion, announcing the truth of predictions made about the breakdown of public policy in telecommunications, including: the new phenomena of merging media companies with communications companies which have previously been separated by regulation standards, the discussion of a "two-tiered" internet,and the "pay by the bit economic model" that is deterring public discourse and only widening the digital divide. Davitian concludes these announcements with a call to action, reminding her readers that "the future of democracy depends upon the focused and successful work of local and national public interest organization that seek to influence Congress, file comments with the FCC and take cases to Federal Court."
For the complete article, check out page 11 of the People's Guide to the Telecommunications Act of 2006 at: http://www.cctv.org/index.php?SiteAlias=cctv&PageAlias=CMR_Home
