Open Letter to Reps Re: ATT and Comcast Censorship Of The Web

Dear Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein and Zoe Lofgren,

At the end of this message I have pasted a sample e-mail that I am circulating on the web regarding this issue. It seems that the MPAA and RIAA have teamed up with ATT and Comcast to limit Internet access for those people who are accused of illegal file sharing. This idea violates due process because ATT and Comcast don't have to prove in court that you downloaded or streamed content illegally before they can take action. The methods they use will also end up sweeping up innocent people along with the guilty.

I admit that I watch Youtube videos that I later find out were infinging content. But I only find out because I save the link to the video in favorite places in IE and come back to it later only to find that it has been taken down or the user who posted it has been banned because of copyright infringement. There are plenty of "official" videos on Youtube with exactly the same content and some even have commercials imbedded in them. So how am I supposed to tell the difference? I also listen to http://www.freakradio.org, which streams original content for the most part, but which may include occasional streaming of songs that don't have the streaming rights paid for. Am I now a criminal because of the actions/innactions of the DJ which are beyond my control?

The actions of ATT and Comcast will also sweep up innocent people along with "guilty" people such as myself. For instance, if these policies had been in place since 2005, there would now be a total of three current and former landlords of mine who would have had their internet access banned or restricted because of my actions. You see, since 2005 I have rented rooms in households that have free Internet access offered as part of the rental agreement. I don't think it is fair to tarnish the records of my landlords in the eyes of ATT and Comcast just because I want to excercise a little free speech.

Please introduce or sponsor a bill that would require ATT and Comcast and other ISPs to get a court order to shut off or restrict a person's Internet access if they can prove to the court (and preferably prove to a Jury) that the person was soley responsible for downloading infringing content in the suspected household. They should also have to prove that the illegal downloading was done with advance knowledge that the content was infringing. Thank you.

Sincerely,

John Thielking

Friends-

Completely over the top, even compared to everything else we're up against: Entertainment industry sources are leaking that they've convinced Internet service providers to start restricting people's web access. If you're accused of downloading or streaming three files they'll consider messing with your Internet connection -- and maybe even decide what sites you're allowed to visit.

Will you help fight the proposal? Just click here to email AT&T and Comcast:

http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/three_strikes/?page=121&referring_akid=a1642053.298162.g3Twho&source=auto-taf

The MPAA and RIAA have convinced companies like Comcast, AT&T, and others to voluntarily create a "Three Strikes" policy -- yes, that's really what they are calling it. CNET reports that your Internet service provider will respond to online file sharing with censorship tools like:

* "Throttling down" your internet bandwidth and speed;

* Limiting your access to the Web;

* Controlling what websites you are allowed to visit;

* And requiring you to attend pirate school to be educated on copyright law.

Will you act now to fight this new ridiculous proposal. Just click here to email AT&T and Comcast to urge them not to censor the Internet:

http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/three_strikes/?referring_akid=a1642053.298162.g3Twho&source=auto-taf

Thanks!