Protecting our Internet Access

So the European parliament has got it into its head that it should be fine for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to limit our access to websites on the internet based on whatever package we've purchased from them.

Think about how Sky and Virgin Media work today, there are different packages you can purchase which give you different channels you are allowed to view. Without the right package you can't watch Premiership matches or the latest movies.

While this is ok for television, the internet is a completely different beast though. New sites are being opened up all the time and once they're in a search engine like Google it should be possible for anyone to find them and use it. However if this goes through and their site isn't part of your ISPs package they're not going to get your custom.

Now I really like the way when I need something slighly different than what you get on the high street they are often a few sites which can provide this and get it mailed out the next day. I don't want my internet compartmentalized based on what I'm prepared to pay a company that supports the physical wire to my house.

If you agree that this plan just has bad written all over it then head on over to http://www.blackouteurope.eu and follow their advice for lobbying your MEPs to vote against the bill next month.