Press Release
InternetforEveryone.org: Broadband Access Must Be a National Priority
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
NEW YORK -- Today, an impressive line-up of Internet visionaries, business leaders, legal scholars and public interest advocates launched InternetforEveryone.org, an initiative aimed at connecting all Americans to affordable, high-speed Internet.
Speakers at today's event, held at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City, included FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein; David All, founder, Slatecard.com and TechRepublican.com; Brad Burnham, partner at Union Square Ventures; Vint Cerf, chief technology evangelist of Google; Robin Chase, CEO of Meadow Networks and co-founder of Zipcar; Van Jones, president of Green For All; Stanford Law Professor Lawrence Lessig; Michael Winship, president of Writers Guild of America-East; Columbia Law Professor Tim Wu; and Jonathan Zittrain, co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Watch the press conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=726e5Nhh-Mk
"Closing the digital divide must be a national priority," said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, the organizer of InternetforEveryone.org. "Americans pay far too much for Internet connections that are far too slow compared to consumers in other countries. This unprecedented initiative brings together public- and private-sector groups to build the political and popular will to address this critical problem."
Today's launch included the release of One Nation Online, an overview of the current state of broadband adoption in the United States, demonstrating that the digital divide remains vast. Half of American homes still are not connected to high-speed Internet. This poor broadband performance has dropped the United States to 15th place in international broadband rankings -- down from fourth place in 2001.
Read One Nation Online: http://www.freepress.net/files/IFE_Brochure.pdf
InternetforEveryone.org will hold public forums across the country to spark a national dialogue between all of the stakeholders who use the Internet. These forums will build broad support for a national broadband policy that restores America's place as a world technology leader.
Members of InternetforEveryone.org are united by four basic principles:
For more information about the initiative, visit www.InternetforEveryone.org
Speakers at today's event, held at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City, included FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein; David All, founder, Slatecard.com and TechRepublican.com; Brad Burnham, partner at Union Square Ventures; Vint Cerf, chief technology evangelist of Google; Robin Chase, CEO of Meadow Networks and co-founder of Zipcar; Van Jones, president of Green For All; Stanford Law Professor Lawrence Lessig; Michael Winship, president of Writers Guild of America-East; Columbia Law Professor Tim Wu; and Jonathan Zittrain, co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Watch the press conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=726e5Nhh-Mk
"Closing the digital divide must be a national priority," said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, the organizer of InternetforEveryone.org. "Americans pay far too much for Internet connections that are far too slow compared to consumers in other countries. This unprecedented initiative brings together public- and private-sector groups to build the political and popular will to address this critical problem."
Today's launch included the release of One Nation Online, an overview of the current state of broadband adoption in the United States, demonstrating that the digital divide remains vast. Half of American homes still are not connected to high-speed Internet. This poor broadband performance has dropped the United States to 15th place in international broadband rankings -- down from fourth place in 2001.
Read One Nation Online: http://www.freepress.net/files/IFE_Brochure.pdf
InternetforEveryone.org will hold public forums across the country to spark a national dialogue between all of the stakeholders who use the Internet. These forums will build broad support for a national broadband policy that restores America's place as a world technology leader.
Members of InternetforEveryone.org are united by four basic principles:
- Access: Every home and business in America must have access to a high-speed, world-class communications infrastructure.
- Choice: Every consumer must enjoy real competition in lawful online content, as well as among high-speed Internet providers, to achieve lower prices and higher speeds.
- Openness: Every Internet user should have the right to freedom of speech and commerce online in an open market without gatekeepers or discrimination.
- Innovation: The Internet should continue to create good jobs, foster entrepreneurship, spread new ideas and serve as a leading engine of economic growth.
For more information about the initiative, visit www.InternetforEveryone.org
