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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Access
Now [mailto:access@accessnow.org] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:26
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Michael Gurstein<BR><B>Subject:</B> Our internet is at
risk<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<P><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c38/151709430/VEsE/">Countries
like China and Russia are trying to expand the power of a closed UN
body to give governments more control over the internet. Tell the
ITU we don't want it deciding the future of the internet and to make
its plans public!</A></P>
<P><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c38/151709430/VEsF/"
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<P>Michael,</P>
<P>The internet we’ve come to know and love -- one that's open,
decentralized, and governed by many stakeholders -- <STRONG>is
threatened.</STRONG><BR><BR>Right now, several countries, including China
and Russia, are proposing to expand the powers of a non-transparent global
institution, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
<STRONG>allowing it to change the rules on how our internet is used and
governed.</STRONG> And what's worse, the ITU won't even release their
negotiating documents to the public or give internet users a seat at the
table.</P>
<P><STRONG>The ITU isn't used to public accountability, but together we
can change that.</STRONG> Let's tell the ITU that we don't want a
secretive body where only governments have a vote deciding the future of
our internet!</P>
<P><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c38/151709430/VEsC/"
target=_blank><STRONG>Click here to sign the petition demanding the ITU
makes its plans public and we'll work on delivering the petition at their
next planning meeting.</STRONG></A></P>
<P>The ITU gives every country one vote -- <STRONG>that's why it’s crucial
we call upon our individual governments to support our cause.</STRONG>
Multi-stakeholder governance of the internet is one of the reasons we can
so easily access sites around the world, share with our friends on social
networks, and participate in a global community. </P>
<P>Now, with the ITU renegotiating a new treaty this year, China, Russia,
and others are pushing proposals that would give governments greater
control over how you access the internet. <STRONG>Imagine how that might
impact your privacy, security, and freedom of speech online.</STRONG></P>
<P>The ITU has played an important role in telecommunications and spectrum
management and its use for development, but this is not cause for
expanding its mandate. <STRONG>While an evolution of internet governance
is needed (including an examination of the role of the US), it should
evolve in the same way that it was originally designed -- in an open,
decentralized, and inclusive manner. </STRONG><BR><BR>Civil society needs
a voice in the ITU negotiations. We've cosigned a letter with other
organizations including the CDT (USA), CIS (India), FGV (Brazil), EFF
(USA), and EIPR (Egypt) urging all stakeholders to be a part of this
process and for the ITU to be transparent in their negotiations.</P>
<P><STRONG><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c38/151709430/VEsD/"
target=_blank>Click here to join us in our call to keep the ITU from
regulating the internet, publicly release its plans, and respect our role
in the internet's future by signing the petition
below. </A></STRONG></P>
<P>In solidarity,<BR>The Access Team </P>
<P><STRONG>For more information:</STRONG><BR><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c3b/151709430/VEsA/"
target=_blank>Civil Society urges openness, multi-stakeholder process for
WCIT</A><BR><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c3a/151709430/VEsB/"
target=_blank>ITU Move to Expand Powers Threatens the Internet</A><BR><A
href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/m/3717cd24/13a54daa/72fd7055/1de41c35/151709430/VEsO/"
target=_blank>Hey ITU Member States: No More Secrecy, Release the Treaty
Proposals</A></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR>
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