R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Boots Riley of The Coup, Ted Leo, Death Cab for Cutie, OK Go, the Kronos Quartet, Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Calexico, The Donnas, Kathleen Hanna and many other musicians and independent record labels have joined Rock the Net, a nationwide campaign to recruit thousands of artists to support the fight for net neutrality. http://rockthenet.futureofmusic.org
Three years ago, 4,000 musicians signed an FMC letter opposing radio consolidation. With Rock the Net, we intend to get thousands of musicians, independent labels and music services to become part of the effort to keep a ‘payola’ system from being established on the Internet.
Join Rock the Net today! http://rockthenet.futureofmusic.org
At the Rock the Net website you can sign on to the campaign, then add your upcoming shows to the Rock the Net database, which will display on our interactive map cataloging events around the country. You can also invite other bands to join, sign a petition and send a letter to Congress. Our goal is to demonstrate the music community’s nationwide support for the principle of net neutrality.
We’re holding a Rock the Net kick-off press conference just before Ted Leo’s March 29 show at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. If you’re at the show, be sure to stop by and say hello! FMC is organizing Rock the Net with Noise Pop and Zeitgeist Artist Management.
R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Boots Riley of The Coup, Ted Leo to join launch of major nationwide campaign for net neutrality
FMC press release, March 23, 2007
FCC to Examine Network Neutrality
Rock the Net has the chance to have a real impact on policy. Late last week - on March 22 - the FCC announced that it would open a Notice of Inquiry on broadband industry practices, including the principle of network neutrality. While all five commissioners agreed to the NOI, Copps and Adelstein both noted that this course of action was too tepid for their liking.
"I want an FCC that unconditionally states its preference for nondiscrimination on the Internet," Copps said.
We want to quote Copps at length below because his statements are so strong that it just makes you want to grab a bullhorn and march right next to him:
"We should be building on what we have already approved and going with at least a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with a commitment to move to an Order within a time certain. These are not esoteric, inside-the-Beltway issues - they go to the very core of what kinds of opportunities are going to be available to all of us in this digital age. We’re being left behind in broadband globally, the country is paying a steep cost, and we face the stark challenge to decide if we are going to do something about it or not. We’re talking here about the greatest small "d" democratic technology platform that has ever existed. Taking another year or two to decide if we want to keep it that way shortchanges the technology, shortchanges consumers and shortchanges our future. I will not dissent from the one small step forward we take today, but I do lament our not making a Neil Armstrong giant leap for mankind."
We applaud Commissioners Copps and Adelstein for their understanding of and their commitment to the principle of net neutrality. Let’s all work together and show that the music community supports it as well. Rock the net. http://rockthenet.futureofmusic.org
FCC to Examine Future of Internet Access
Reuters, March 22, 2007
FCC Takes (Passive) Aggressive Action on Net Neutrality
Public Knowledge, March 22, 2007
Statements from FCC Commissioners on NOI on Broadband Industry Practices:
Copps: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-271687A3.pdf
Adelstein: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-271687A4.pdf