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A huge decision is going to be made on Election Day that could change the lives of millions of Americans.
And it's not about Obama or McCain.
On Nov. 4, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to open unused television airwaves to provide affordable Internet services nationwide.
Tell Washington: Open the Airwaves for Everyone
Opening up these vacant airwaves -- called white spaces -- might be our best opportunity to close the digital divide.
They can transmit an Internet signal over mountains and through concrete walls. But that hasn't stopped the National Association of Broadcasters from deploying their lobbyists to try to keep us from delivering a better Internet for everyone.
FCC engineers just completed an exhaustive study that shows white spaces can be used to connect millions to the Internet without harming TV signals. But the NAB doesn't like the results, and they're trying to get Congress to intervene.
Right now, NAB lobbyists are lining up outside the doors of Congress. Sen. Daniel Inouye needs to hear your side of the story:
Tell Your Senator: White Spaces Belong to the Public
It's time we ended the NAB's decades-long effort to control our airwaves. We must move quickly to make sure we don't lose this tremendous opportunity to connect all of America to affordable Internet services.
In rural parts of the country, more than 75% of TV airwaves sit vacant. Even urban areas, where the spectrum is crowded, stand to gain from opening white spaces. Making these airwaves available for Internet access has bipartisan support at the FCC and in Congress. It just makes sense.
On Nov. 4, the FCC needs to simply follow good science with good policy -- shedding outdated standards that have placed our airwaves under the lock and key of the broadcasting lobby.
Time is running out. Make your call today:
Sen. Daniel Inouye, (202) 224-3934, (808) 541-2542
Unless we urge Congress and the FCC to push back against the NAB and open up white spaces, we could miss out on one of our last, best chances to build a better Internet for everyone.
Thank you for taking action,
Timothy Karr is the Campaign Director for Free Press. See more at http://www.freepress.net/ and http://www.savetheinternet.com/
