On Friday, the Media and Democracy Coalition stood with SEIU, the Teamsters, UFCW, Healthcare for America Now, small business owners, Greenpeace, PennEnvironment, AFSCME, Change to Win, the Sierra Club, and many other groups in denouncing the regressive policies of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at its meeting in Philadelphia.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been fighting healthcare reform, climate change legislation, and President Obama's attempt to guarantee freedom of speech and freedom of expression online. I spoke of the growing threat from the giant corporations like Comcast that control the Internet to our freedom of speech online, and the need to make net neutrality the law.

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, of Erie.

This is almost impossible to believe - but it's actually true.

About a month ago, the Obama administration announced its intent to write policy that would protect, by law, the freedom that has allowed the Internet to grow and flourish.

It's no joke that such protection is needed. Repression of the Internet by the corporations that control it has already started.

Last month, Apple told a healthcare reform group that they wouldn't carry a healthcare reform app on their AT&T network for 30 million iPhones because it was "politically charged"...

...two years ago, it was Verizon refusing to transmit text messages from NARAL Pro-choice America.

Come to Tritone at 15th & South on Feb 23rd at 9pm for a concert to promote "Net Neutrality."

The event is sponsored by the Future of Music Coalition, PennPIRG, the Media and Democracy Coalition and other groups.

A bevy of woman-centric bands and DJs will play Tritone in support of "Rock The Net," Future of Music Coalition’s ongoing campaign for net neutrality. Appearing at the “Sugar Town” concert are Beretta 76, Victor Victor Band, KeN, Surgeon and DJ Chatty Cathy.

The Internet is an increasingly powerful tool for musicians, making the playing field more level for big record labels and the smallest bedroom recording artists. The Internet is also a critical tool for free speech and democracy, giving individuals the chance to communicate free of gatekeepers in mainstream media.