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Washington, DC – Keeping internet access free and open for musicians and their supporters is the central goal of Rock the Net, a nationwide campaign for network neutrality, whose champions include R.E.M., Death Cab for Cutie, Boots Riley of The Coup, and many more. Next week, singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson will support the cause, in both a teleconference with featured speaker Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), and a concert performance.
Net neutrality is the idea that all websites and services should be equally accessible on the Internet. Some Internet service providers have proposed charging a fee to Internet content providers to make their sites load faster. Net neutrality advocates believe such a move could make it harder for fans to access the vibrant array of musical offerings now available through legitimate online stores and services.
Jay Inslee represents Washington’s First Congressional District. A member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Inslee has been a strong supporter of telecommunications reform and network neutrality, co-sponsoring HR 5273, the Network Neutrality Act of 2006. Rep. Inslee will be joined by Nathanson, Future of Music Coalition Policy Director Michael Bracy, Reclaim the Media’s Executive Director Jonathan Lawson and others for a teleconference on Tuesday, October 30 at 4:30 PM ET/1:30 PM PT to discuss telecommunications policy and the principle of network neutrality.
Teleconference details:
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Matt Nathanson, musician
Jonathan Lawson, Executive Director, Reclaim the Media
Michael Bracy, Policy Director, Future of Music Coalition
Nabil Ayers, owner of Sonic Boom record stores and independent record label, The Control Group
Christina Drummond, ACLU of Washington StateWhen:
Tuesday, October 30, 2007Time:
4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PTDial-In:
1-800-895-1085, password: FMCNET
Please dial in 5-10 minutes before call so we can start on time.On Tuesday, October 30, Matt Nathanson headlines a sold-out show at Seattle’s Crocodile Café (2200 Second Ave.). Nathanson is one of the founding members of the Rock the Net campaign, a nationwide coalition of musicians and labels that support net neutrality. Rock the Net launched in spring 2007 to demonstrate to Congress and the FCC the music community's broad support for this principle. As musicians and entrepreneurs, Rock the Net supporters understand the importance of treating all websites and online music stores equally -- from the busiest music website to the smallest blog.
Rock the Net founding bands include:
R.E.M. • Pearl Jam • Ted Leo • Boots Riley • Death Cab for Cutie • OK Go • Bob Mould • Calexico • Kathleen Hanna • The Donnas • Jerry Harrison • John Doe • Les Claypool • Kronos Quartet • Jimmy Tamborello • Street to Nowhere • The Locust • Rogue Wave • Guster • State Radio • Matt Wertz • Griffin House • Matt Nathanson • The Wrens
Since its launch, over 750 bands and 155 independent labels have joined the campaign. More information can be found at http://www.futureofmusic.org/rockthenet/ and http://www.myspace.com/futureofmusiccoalition.
Tuesday evening’s Matt Nathanson show is one in a series of concerts around the country that will include Rock the Net materials and petitions, as well as tabling by local media reform and civil rights groups, organized to raise awareness about network neutrality and to encourage citizens to connect with local media groups.
About the Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that identifies, examines, interprets and translates the challenging issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. FMC achieves this through continuous interaction with its primary constituency - musicians - and in collaboration with other creator/citizen groups.About Reclaim the Media
Reclaim the Media is a small, Seattle-based nonprofit organization dedicated to pursuing a more just society by transforming our media system and expanding the communications rights of ordinary people through grassroots organizing, education, networking and advocacy. We envision an authentic, just democracy characterized by media systems that inform and empower citizens, reflect our diverse cultures, and secure communications rights for everyone. We advocate for a free and diverse press, community access to communications tools and technology, and media policy that serves the public interest.
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