Vogeler Calls on Senator Kohl to Support Free Speech on the Internet

Wisconsin Green Party
www.wisconsingreenparty.org

Rae Vogeler for U.S. Senate
www.voterae.org 

Contact:
Marc Sanson: Campaign Manager, 608-204-7336, 
msanson@gp.org 
Rae Vogeler: 608-695-2695 or 608-237-1337, 
rae-v@charter.net 

Monday, September 18, 2006

Vogeler Calls on Senator Kohl to Support Free Speech on the Internet

Congress is now considering a major overhaul of the Telecommunications Act that would strip away our free speech rights on the Internet. Their revisions will let companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast decide which web sites work best based on which site pays them the most. 

"I firmly support Net Neutrality, and as Senator will oppose any efforts to limit the public's access to the Internet," says Rae Vogeler, the Wisconsin Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate. Net Neutrality is the principle that all users of the Internet should be able to access and run the applications of their choice. Net neutrality prevents the companies that control the wires from discriminating against content based on its source or ownership.  

Rae Vogeler goes on to say, "Large companies dominate our democracy. They control what gets put on television, what we hear on the radio and what we see in the newspapers. To a large extent, they determine what 'spin' is put on the news we see. They have enormous influence over who gets elected to public office. 

"The Internet has opened up a vast space for grassroots democracy to flourish. Everyday people can have their thoughts and ideas heard by thousands, if not millions, of people. The Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation and free speech online. It is the one public space we have that is not dominated by large corporations. 

"Now, Congress is looking at taking this open public forum away from us. The changes they are considering will limit the sites we see, the ideas we are exposed to, and the voice we have. They will put the Internet up for sale to the highest bidder. The free exchange of ideas in a democracy should be based on the worth of your ideas, not the worth of your bank account." 

Incumbent Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee for Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, and a key vote in the debate on Net Neutrality, is still undecided on the issue.  

"Herb Kohl has not been standing up to defend our rights. He voted for the Patriot Act. He voted to confirm the ultra-conservative John Roberts as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Now he's waffling over protecting our Internet free speech rights. I call on Senator Kohl to climb off the fence and take a stand for free speech by supporting Net Neutrality." 

For more information about Rae Vogeler or about the Wisconsin Green Party visit http://www.voterae.org, or contact Marc Sanson, Campaign Manager at msanson@gp.org