FreePress.net announces InternetforEveryone initiative at the Personal democracy Forum (NYC)

Everyone - regardless of income or status - should enjoy the benefits of a fast, affordable, and open Internet. High speed Internet access should be treated as a public utility, like the provision of gas and electricity.

InternetforEveryone.org, an initiative announced at the Personal democracy Forum, calls on Congress to act in the public interest by enacting a national broadband plan built on the following principles:

Access		Every home, business and civic institution in America must have access to a high-speed, world-class communications infrastructure.
Choice		Every consumer must enjoy real competition in lawful online content as well as among high-speed Internet providers to achieve lower prices and higher speeds.
Openness		Every Internet user should have the right to freedom of speech and commerce online in an open market without gatekeepers or discrimination.
Innovation		The Internet should continue to create good jobs, foster entrepreneurship, spread new ideas and serve as a leading engine of economic growth."

BE THE MEDIA attended the press briefing where the InternetforEveryone initiative was announced. Below are some photos:

Participants in InternetforEveryone, pictured from left to right:

Van Jones: Founder and President, GreenForAll.org
Larry Lessig: Founder, Creative Commons
Vint Cerf: Chief Internet Evangelist, Google
Tim Wu: Professor, Columbia Law School
Michael Winship: President, Writers Guild of America
Jonathan Adelstein: FCC Commissioner
Robin Chase: Meadow Networks; Zipcar
Brad Burnham: Union Square Ventures
Josh Silver: Executive Director, FreePress.net

Below is a video from the press briefing with comments from the supporters.

Note especially Vint Cerf's segment at 14:50, and Larry Lessig's segment following Vint.

There will be a series of local broadband hearings to encourage the public to participate in helping to create a national broadband plan. To find the next local hearing, contact them by email.

Join now to help and take part in InternetforEveryone.org.

More photos from the event:

Tim Wu and David Mathison		David Mathison and Vint Cerf

Lawrence Lessig and David Mathison		David Mathison and Jonathan Adelstein

BE THE MEDIA, Media Action Marin, and Media-Alliance have been advocating Community Internet and Digital Inclusion since 2007. They even created a two-part television program on the topic.

Part One was titled "Internet Access as a Public Utility" (see December 14, 2007). 

Moderated by David Mathison, panelists included:

• Tim Redmond: Executive Editor, San Francisco Bay Guardian
• Eloise Lee: Project Director, Broadband Access, Media-Alliance.org
• Andrew Berman: Chairman, Marin Telecommunications Agency
• Peter Franck: Chairman, Media Action Marin

Part Two was taped at Media-Alliance's Digital Inclusion Summit. The session was titled "Creating Platforms for Success," and focused on various Community Internet solutions in use throughout the US and abroad (see February 15, 2008).

Moderated by David Mathison, panelists included:

• Esme Vos: Founder, Muniwireless.com
• Eloise Lee: Project Director, Broadband Access, Media-Alliance.org
• Sascha Meinrath: Executive director, CUWiN
• Dr Faye McNair-Knox: Executive Director, One East Palo Alto
• Greg Epler Wood: Vermont Triple Play Ownership Project

To learn more about Community Internet
See chapter 19 of BE THE MEDIA: