Chapel Hill Technology Advisory Committee

["Brian Russell" <brussell AT ibiblio.org>]

"...without your calls to Congress, these Community Internet projects may
be shut down by big cable and telephone companies."

Real "action items" bellow for preserving a community Internet project,
(See link bellow to contact your Congress person). Let's make sure all our
efforts are worth it.
-Brian

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Dear Media Reformer:

Hundreds of U.S. cities and towns are finding that the best way to
guarantee universal, affordable Internet access to their residents is to
provide it themselves. But without your calls to Congress, these Community
Internet projects may be shut down by big cable and telephone companies.

New networks are taking root across the country. These projects improve
access to information, provide education and job training, enhance public
safety and bolster local economic development. They're even being used to
connect families and provide relief to thousands of Americans displaced by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

To learn more about Community Internet near you, visit Free Press' new
interactive map profiling more than 270 projects nationwide at
http://www.freepress.net/communityinternet .

These innovative networks are not without enemies. The giant cable and
telecom companies would rather squash these local efforts than provide
more Americans with affordable Internet access. Industry lobbyists have
pushed through laws in 14 states that prohibit or restrict municipal
broadband projects.

But on Capitol Hill, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John McCain
(R-Ariz.) recently introduced a bill (S. 1294) that would "preserve and
protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability
and services."

Please call your senators now and ask them to co-sponsor the Community
Broadband Act. Go to
http://www.freepress.net/action/callcongress.php?a=cba .

Tell them about local efforts underway in your state and urge them to
support this crucial legislation. Please forward this message to all your
friends and encourage them to call their Senators now.

Onward,


Ben Scott
Policy Director
www.freepress.net

P.S. A group of Community Internet developers, coordinated by our friends
at the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Champaign-Urbana
Wireless Network, have converged in Louisiana and set up wireless networks
and Internet phones at a series of shelters for evacuees from Hurricane
Katrina. To help the relief effort, donate at http://www.cuwireless.net/ .


/*Your email ID. <diaEmailID='40185551' thread=6501/>--*/

Dear Brian Russell:

Hundreds of U.S. cities and towns are finding that the best way to guarantee universal, affordable Internet access to their residents is to provide it themselves. But without your calls to Congress, these Community Internet projects may be shut down by big cable and telephone companies.

New networks are taking root across the country. These projects improve access to information, provide education and job training, enhance public safety and bolster local economic development. They're even being used to connect families and provide relief to thousands of Americans displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

To learn more about Community Internet near you, visit Free Press' new interactive map profiling more than 270 projects nationwide.

These innovative networks are not without enemies. The giant cable and telecom companies would rather squash these local efforts than provide more Americans with affordable Internet access. Industry lobbyists have pushed through laws in 14 states that prohibit or restrict municipal broadband projects.

But on Capitol Hill, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) recently introduced a bill (S. 1294) that would "preserve and protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services."

Please call your senators now and ask them to co-sponsor
the Community Broadband Act.

Tell them about local efforts underway in your state and urge them to support this crucial legislation. Please forward this message to all your friends and encourage them to call their Senators now.

Onward,

Ben Scott
Policy Director
www.freepress.net

P.S. A group of Community Internet developers, coordinated by our friends at the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Champaign-Urbana Wireless Network, have converged in Louisiana and set up wireless networks and Internet phones at a series of shelters for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Click here to help the relief effort.

P.P.S. To learn more about the Free Press Community Internet campaign, visit www.freepress.net/communityinternet.

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