The internet has proven to be the new equalizer in politics allowing candidates to wage campaigns, the truth to be disseminated (instead of by a limited number of corporate media) and allow organizations like ours to grow via the internet.

All of that is at stake if a bill pushed by Senator Ted Stevens  passes. In a nutshell, the Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 would allow those that can afford it to have higher speed access to their websites. Thus those that cannot afford will have slower loading pages, thus less traffic, thus we are just like TV (those that can afford to get their message out,--will).

A recent  Willamette Week story  details the bill. The Senate recesses soon, and there is a short window for this bill to hit the floor. Several senators have yet to commit to this bill, see if yours is on the list and give them a call.

 There is also a really good blog by Jeffrey Chester detailing the issues around this.