I usually stick to pure coupon and deals on this blog, but this issue effects us all, couponers and not. There are two acts in congress right now that would limit your access to the internet.
The House's Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Senate's PROTECT IP Act would censor the Internet and create massive legal uncertainty and regulation for websites like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook -- not to mention killing emerging mobile and social startups before they get off the ground. SOPA's regulations leave any website with user-contributed content -- that's pretty much all of social media -- no choice but to pre-screen their site's content for copyright violations, effectively killing them. Court orders may even require DNS providers to block certain websites. Who decides what’s infringing, and which sites you can and can’t visit? The Federal Government.
What can you do?
First of all, educate yourself. There are overviews of this legislation available all over the internet. Here is one. Sign petitions to let your voice be heard. Post on your facebook page, your twitter account, send emails. But MOST IMPORTANTLY contact your members of congress to let them know that you do not support this bill and you expect that your voice will be heard. Find your House leaders here and your Senate leaders here.
For my Kent Readers, here are our congressmen.
The Honorable Tim Ryan
http://timryan.house.gov/
(800) 856-4152
He also has a contact form right on his page.
| Brown, Sherrod - (D - OH) | Class I |
| 713 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 | |
| Web Form: www.brown.senate.gov/contact/ | |
| Portman, Rob - (R - OH) | Class III |
| 338 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 | |
| Web Form: www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=contact... | |
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