"Mere Hours Left To Save Net Neutrality"

A staffer with Free Press, the media reform group, argues today (with hours left to express yourself to the Federal Communications Commission) that Net Neutrality may be hanging by a thread:

Earlier this month, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski released a proposal that is Net Neutrality in name only. While details are still scarce, the Genachowski proposal reportedly would not offer the same protections to wireless Internet users as it would to those using wired connections. It would also open the door to "paid prioritization," which could allow phone and cable companies to create toll roads that would favor the traffic of a select few companies that can pay by slowing down everyone else.

Scary Picture of Wireless Web, according to a Free Press staffer.

Downside of the Internet

For months, we've discussed how important Internet has been in growth of independent media. There are downsides to the Internet, of course, such as people blabbing (or lying) in public and shrinking attention spans.

Live blogging from Assange bail hearing

The Guardian, one of the leading dailies in England and a NON-PROFIT, has been live blogging from the Assange bail hearing in London. No daily has worked more closely with WikiLeaks in publishing/analyzing the once-secret U.S. documents.

New whistle-blowing website, OpenLeaks.org, launched this week by former WikiLeaks associates.

Here's writer Ted Rall on what leaked State Dept cables tell us about U.S. support for dictators in Central Asia.

2010 Izzy Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now being accepted (until Jan 13, 2011) for the 2010 Izzy Award. The Izzy for outstanding achievement in independent media is named after I.F. "Izzy" Stone, the legendary independent journalist/publisher. Details here.

Good discussion of Net Neutrality

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on Internet nondiscrimination in August along with Josh Silver of Free Press.

Sen. Lieberman vs. WikiLeaks

The publication by WikiLeaks.org of leaked US diplomatic cables is causing a stir around the world and embarrassment to US officials who did some nefarious things -- like pressure democratic governments not to prosecute torture and kidnapping conducted in the "war on terror." In the land of the free and home of the brave, Sen. Joe Lieberman stepped forward to successfully pressure Amazon.com to drop its hosting of WikiLeaks. I see on the blogs a bunch of folks who won't be shopping at Amazon this holiday season.

Iran Bloggers Face Death?

H/t to Andrew C for this video.