I apologize for cross-posting to SLE and OT but this matter is of grave importance to the future of the Internet. The time to take direct, specific and personal action is *now*. Please don't put this off. Here is what needs to be done: * If you're in the U.S. call *and* write your elected representatives to complain. * If you're outside the U.S., forward this to every contact you have in the U.S. and ask them to call and write, per the above, and to forward this to their own contacts in the U.S. Again, please accept my sincere apologies in advance for this OT cross-post. Carl Yesterday afternoon, a House committee caved to the narrow interests of telecom companies and voted to strip Net Neutrality from a bill moving through Congress. Network Neutrality is the Internet's First Amendment -- without it companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast will move to control what you do, where you go, and what you watch online. The vote was an outrage, but the fight for Internet freedom is far from over. More important votes are coming in Congress -- and we have the momentum. You are one of more than 250,000 people who wrote and called Congress in the past five days. Because you raised public awareness of this threat to Internet freedom, no member of Congress can in good conscience vote with the telecom cartel. Politicians take action when they realize the public is paying attention. Yesterday's vote was much closer than predicted. Call your members of Congress to let them know that no bill should become law without meaningful protections for Network Neutrality. Tell them that the public is now watching this issue, and we will not stand for any law that threatens Internet freedom. Network Neutrality must be protected by Congress. We have ignited a prairie fire of protest. In less than one week, our SavetheInternet.com Coalition has lit up the phones in Congress. We've rallied more than 600 blogs to write about this issue. We've formed a diverse, bipartisan coalition of more than 75 organizations banding together to fight for a free and open Internet. Congress needs to hear from you right away. Please call and send a letter to your elected representatives. And don't forget to spread the word to your friends, colleagues and family: http://action.freepress.net/campaign/savethenet/i7w8g3x2qjn3nkt?" The battle has just begun, We've already proven that people can make a difference by simply speaking out. Now, let's win. Onward, Timothy Karr Campaign Director Free Press http://action.freepress.net/ct/17MGYrd1pqRM/ P.S. Stay up to date on breaking developments. Visit: http://action.freepress.net/ct/11MGYrd1pqR_/ You can take action on this alert via the web at: http://action.freepress.net/campaign/savethenet/ Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. http://action.freepress.net/campaign/savethenet/forward/ We encourage you to take action *today*. Don't Let Congress Ruin the Internet INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB: If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL: http://action.freepress.net/campaign/savethenet/ Your letter will be addressed and sent to: Your Congressperson Your Senators ----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME---- Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], Congress must preserve a free and open Internet. Please vote for enforceable network neutrality and keep tollbooths, gatekeepers, and discrimination off my Internet. Please act immediately to save the Internet. ----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----