One of my very favorite things about the internet is the fact that as an amatuer food blogger, I can read and enjoy other amatuer food bloggers completely directed by my own personal whim and interests. Sure, I like Food TV network and other large, corporate offerings. But the freedom of the internet means that there is a level playing field for all of us to participate--whether it is Giganto Food Company or an individual Mom in Sacramento, CA, or a guy in the midwest somewhere who like to grill.
If the major Internet Service Providers like AT&T, Comcast or Verizon get their way, your freedom of choice about which internet site to enjoy will become a thing of the past. Right now they are lobbying Congress hard to make it legal for them to interject "gateways" between you and the internet, so that they choose what parts of the web you will be allowed access--and which will incur an extra fee for the "privilige" of access. In other words: your freedom of information and acccess on the web will now be sold to the highest bidder. And you know that will be the death of the web as we know and love it.
If it weren't for the freedom of the internet, would any of us have heard of the Amateur Gourmet? Could we find another one of Elise's wonderful family recipes and stories at Simply Recipes, or would we be stuck with Emeril and Rachael only? And what about Kate and her reportage on High Fructose Corn Syrup over at Accidental Hedonist? Do you really think the major ISPs, whose clients will become the major food industry, are going to make it wasy for you to find reportage like hers?
I think not.
Congress is not known for it's courage. Unless they hear from each of us, and fast--they will sell us out for corporate moolah. Don't let them get away with it. I urge you to sign the internet petition to Save the Internet now--and please, blog about it. Share the link. Unless you are content to become part of the information ghetto where people have to pay just to find you.
Keep up the fight!
Posted by: Mr. Beer Belly | January 29, 2007 at 08:40 PM