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ISSUES

Internet Freedom

 

What's New

New report

PennPIRG just released A Public Interest Internet Agenda, a new report which prescribes broadband policy solutions that are tied to the common good and our prosperity.

Connecting every citizen to the Internet at broadband speed is the key to economic development, improved healthcare and education, energy efficiency, robust democracy and open government.  Click here to download the report.


Congress Ready to Preserve Network Neutrality

On July 31st 2009, Reps. Markey and Eshoo introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 3458). This bill, will codify the ruling principles of non-discrimination and openness on the Internet. It will also give government the power to punish Internet service providers (ISPs) who throttle access to websites.  

Setting Wireless Free

In August the Federal Communications Commission began an inquiry into AT&T and Apple’s blocking of applications to the iPhone. This inquiry exposed how AT&T and other giant telecom companies in the cellphone market have forced handset makers to deny innovative applications that could help lower the cost of service to consumers. PennPIRG is working with coalition partners to bring antidiscrimination principles to cellphones, unlock handsets, eliminate unfair fees and open the market to competition.

Protecting the Digital Consumer

This fall Congress will begin to draft a bill to protect consumer privacy in the online marketplace. People increasingly rely on the Internet for a wide range of transactions and services, many of which involve their health, finances, and other sensitive matters. We’re working with Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to reign in invasive data collection, abusive or discriminatory online tracking and to strengthen privacy protections for online consumers.

How You Can Help

Urge your legislator to support the Internet Freedom Preservation Act

This bill will protect the Internet against unfair filtering, throttling and discrimination of content. To prevent this bill from passing the big phone and cable companies have hired over 500 lobbyists to stop this bill. Call your member of Congress to protect the public interest, support an open Internet and co-sponsor the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 3458).



Overview

U.S. PIRG is working to build a fair and open telecommunications system where consumers have access to quality information. We’re working hard to make sure that every consumer has access to affordable, fair and fast broadband Internet and to ensure that Americans are protected by strong consumer laws that guarantee privacy and foster competition that promotes the highest quality of service.
 
While America was once on the cutting edge of technology and access to information, we are now one of the slowest industrialized nations in terms of Internet speeds. Despite our spotty broadband coverage, throttled access and slow service, Americans still pay some of the highest rates.

In most of the world cell phone consumers can use almost any phone with any network. But in the U.S. consumers are limited to a handful of offerings per network and locked into networks by punitive early termination fees and proprietary handsets. As a result of our locked cell phone market, American consumers lose out on the newest innovative product or service.

Finally, developments in the digital age urgently require government to rethink the laws that protect consumer information privacy. Today, electronic information from consumers is collected, compiled, sold secretly and without consumer safeguards. We’re working hard to modernize our laws to protect consumers online.

To fix these problems, U.S. PIRG is fighting to ensure:
 
• Affordable, fair, fast and open broadband Internet access from coast to coast

• Wireless innovation, unlocked cellphones and fair and honest billing

• Lasting privacy protection that covers and empowers all digital consumer



PennPIRG is working with coalition partners to bring anti-discrimination principles to cell phones, unlock handsets, eliminate unfair fees and open the market to competition.

 
PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP
PennPIRG: 1420 Walnut Street, Suite 650, Philadelphia, PA 19102