Tech coalition presses open Internet agenda
Businesses, consumer and grassroots groups urge transition team to push for accessibility for all Americans.
A coalition of consumer and grassroots groups, as well as businesses including Amazon.com, eBay, and Google, urged President-elect Obama's transition team today to ensure that his administration keep the Internet "fast, open and accessible to all Americans."
The letter to transition co-chairmen John Podesta and Valerie Jarrett from the Open Internet Coalition recommends the appointment of an FCC chairman who supports strong enforcement and promotion of open Internet principles and the naming of FTC and Justice Department leaders who understand the importance of Internet-related pro-competition and consumer-protection laws.
The coalition suggested that the newly created position of a governmentwide chief technology officer, as well as the U.S. Trade Representative, promote open Internet policies. Furthermore, the group pressed Obama to back network neutrality legislation. During his campaign, Obama supported the proposal and opposed toll-charges that some believe would create an Internet with fast and slow lanes.