Michigan Catholic Conference Urges Support for Net Neutrality
Measures Needed to Protect Internet-Based Religious Speech
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 11, 2006
Contact: Paul A. Long
(517) 372-9310
(LANSING) — With broadcast stations owned by a handful of corporations that marginalize public interest programs in favor of profitable entertainment, the Internet has become a significant catalyst for messages of faith and values, the Michigan Catholic Conference today explained in a letter sent to all members of the Michigan Senate. As the chamber prepares to deliberate measures deregulating the cable television market, the Conference is urging members to ensure “net neutrality” protections are included with the legislation in order to safeguard Internet-based religious speech.
According to the letter, sent by Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long: “If the Internet becomes, as it inevitably will without strong protections for net neutrality, a medium where speakers must pay to deliver their messages, religious speech will be effectively barred from the Internet.”
New rules from the Federal Communications Commission that allow Internet service providers to control speech by speeding up or slowing down access to websites threaten to place an unreasonable price on such communication. Presently, any company providing high-speed access can require Internet content providers to pay fees for “premium service,” while those who do not pay are left with slower, second-class service. This would have severe ramifications as non-profit and religious based organizations that utilize Podcasting and streaming video, for example, would be faced with snail’s pace downloads that dissuade listeners and viewers.
“As you know, the Internet is an indispensable medium and was constructed without the editorial control functions of radio or broadcast and cable television,” reads the Conference’s letter to Senate members. “The Internet is open to any speaker, commercial or noncommercial, whether or not the speech is connected financially to the company providing Internet access, whether it is popular or prophetic. Those characteristics make the Internet critical to non-profit and religious speakers.”
House Bill 6456, which currently lacks net neutrality protections, will be addressed by the full Senate tomorrow. The entire text of Mr. Long’s letter to the Senate regarding net neutrality may be read here.
Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.
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