Tell Congress To Preserve The Independent Web

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As Congress prepares to debate Internet privacy legislation, I want to share my perspective on this issue as your constituent and as an ardent user of the "Independent Web." I'm very concerned that the proposed legislation being promoted by Representative Rick Boucher will decimate the thousands of culturally vital independent web sites that actually comprise the bulk of all web traffic.

While the proposed legislation may seem well-intended, the end result will effectively remove the only source of sustaining revenue from independent web sites, third-party advertising networks.

I regularly visit several independent web sites, many of which are online communities where thousands of people gather to discuss important issues or interesting topics. The Internet is comprised of thousands of such sites, visited by millions of Americans with ideas to express in the best spirit of freedom of speech. For the most part, these sites are often expensive to operate and the owner's only source of income is through advertising from third-party networks.

The proposed legislation authored by Representative Boucher would seek to impose a task on these website owners that defies logic -- asking if end users want to see advertising, before it is displayed. There is an apparent fear that Internet marketers may eventually abuse the data learned via the use of cookies that anonymously track web users. While I agree that there needs to be some serious consideration of the potential problem, we need to take care that the solution does not eradicate society of one of the most important cultural developments in decades, the Independent Web.

Thank you for considering our views when this important issue is debated.

838 Signatures

  • Justin Richard Krog
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Columbia, TN, 38401
  • abdo jose
    • Comments
    • plz stop congress
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • ny
  • SERGE PAPATAKIS
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • WASHINGTON, DC, 20007
  • Lance Boley
    • Comments
    • living abroad
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY2-2301
  • Jonathan Bayless
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Beaufort SC, 29902
  • robert short
    • Comments
    • I will actively campaign against any elected official that supports more internet control. We don't need gov. to protect us from information.
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • fayetteville, ar 72703
  • Jennifer M. Bondzio
    • Comments
    • Don't take away the few freedoms we have left.
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 14228
  • Darren
    • Comments
    • Thanks ATS
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Corpus Christi Tx, 78412
  • Jamie Dixon
    • Comments
    • stop this government/ mainstream media farce
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 85308
  • Carl Lehar-Mikes
    • Comments
    • You! Keep your legislation off my web!
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Ft. Hood, TX 76544
  • michael arellano
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Pasadena,Tx,77504
  • Matthew Gair
    • Comments
    • FREEEEEDOM!
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Orlando
  • Dave Taylor
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • England
  • molly
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • dunsmuir, ca 96025
  • Dale Pfeiffer
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Evansville, IN 47720
  • Tom Anastasiou
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Plantation,FL33324
  • Trent Allen
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Statham, GA, 30666
  • Lawrence Wells
    • Comments
    • Preserve The Independent Web
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Oxford, CT 06478
  • Thomas Valantor
    • Comments
    • For the rights of man.
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 65192
  • Tarzan John Robert Joseph Hedgepeth
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Ballston Spa, NY, 12020
  • Matt Hallock
    • Comments
    • "Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States." (Ronald Reagan)
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Madison, wi 53713
  • David Rhoe
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Johnsonville, NY, 12094
  • Kristen Hedgepeth
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Ballston Spa, NY 12020
  • Chris Rogers
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Richardson, Tx 75081
  • Riley P
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • why. do. you. want. to, know?
  • JULIE DESERRIER
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Halfway mo. 65663-9297
  • Michael Fulford
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Milton Florida 32570
  • james scott thomas
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • bonham, tx. 75418
  • Austin krieghoff
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 92630
  • Alyson Olson
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 49345
  • Jaime
    • Comments
    • The government has run rampant too long. Ron Paul for president!
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, 84115
  • Darrin Miller
    • Comments
    • This proposed legislation is short-sighted. This is the wrong solution.
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Branson, Mo. 65616
  • Jacob Heller
    • Comments
    • Free, open, independent web for -everyone-!!
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Athens, GA 30606
  • Anthony Martarano
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 89107
  • Charles Knott
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Orlando, Florida 32812
  • Rick Ferguson
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • sandusky,ohio 44870
  • David Peters
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Neosho, MO, 64850
  • Michael Hathcock
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Phenix City, Alabama 36870
  • Mark Johnson
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Jacksonville, Fl 32226
  • sarah campbell
    • Comments
    • В
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 44663
  • Steve Ondrejcik
    • Comments
    • Leave the Net alone.
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 07645
  • Patrick Martin
    • Comments
    • Keep the free web the way it is. So much art, literature, and spirit can be freely available to people who may otherwise never have it been seen. Rich Boucher is wrong, and a fool. If these legislation passes the American people will be losing the chance to express themselves freely. Essentially you are taking our 1st amendment rights away from one of the biggest public forums in the world.
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Fresno, CA, 93705
  • Matt Hazel
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Wayne, Michigan, 48184
  • Randy V. shores
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • 10674 Kiowa Rd. apple valley ca. 92308
  • Nancy Donovan
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Hendersonville, NC 28792
  • Edmund Berger
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Louisville, KY, 40217
  • David Krimsky
    • Comments
    • I'd rather rot than work for some sick 9-5 job instead of on the Internet
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Flagstaff Az 86001
  • marilyn callaway
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • brunswick, ga 31523
  • George Heileman
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • Ruidoso Downs, N.M. 88346
  • Bill Rousseau
    • City, Sate, ZIP code
    • New York, NY, 10025