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Dem. Commissioner To Tech Firms: Get Involved In Net Neutrality

  • News.com , Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:30 AM
Michael Copps, a Democratic commissioner at the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission, told an audience of technology executives to get more involved in Net neutrality, an issue that could have big implications for their industry. He says that letting operators control the Internet would irrevocably change it forever, and further telecom consolidation would exacerbate the issue. It's the same thing as media consolidation, he says, which has lead to controlling media messages and content from the top down. That, partly, is what led people away from mass media to the Web in the first place. "We need to figure out," Copps says, "practically speaking, how do we ensure there's not discrimination on the Internet." This is one of the commission's top priorities, he says. As for technology companies: "Get involved," he says. "Decisions without you are decisions against you. Those who want to go in another direction are well-represented, well-entrenched and well-financed."

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