The Nonprofit Technology Conference is not the only conference that talks about changing the world through technology. This April 8-10, our friends at Free Press, the national media reform organization, will host The National Conference for Media Reform in Boston, where the discussion of using technology to change the world will focus on the media.

Free Press knows how much NTEN members care about the future of journalism and public media, so they've extended a discount offer to NTEN members to attend this great event.

Register online with the code "NTEN_NCMR" to receive the special NTEN discount of $50. 

It's 2011 and we feel refreshed and ready to tackle new goals, but before we dive into them we need to take stock of the work and goals that went unfinished last year.

One of our hopes was getting a strong FCC ruling on Net Neutrality to protect free speech and innovation on the Internet. In December, the FCC passed a weak Net Neutrality rule. NTEN and other public interest organizations were pushing for a rule that would prevent Internet providers from acting like Web gatekeepers. This was not accomplished, and instead we are left with rules that favor the industry and leave consumers with little protection.

Free Press Managing Director Craig Aaron said the following about the ruling:

It's no surprise that giant phone and cable companies like Comcast and AT&T have made moves to control the Internet. It's clear they want to dismantle Net Neutrality. Now, they've sent a battalion of lobbyists to Washington to convince the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to abandon Net Neutrality and maintain only minimal oversight over our most important communications channel.

It's not just Net Neutrality that's at stake. If the FCC does not clarify its authority over the Internet, it can't successfully implement the National Broadband Plan -- the plan to connect rural and low-income communities to broadband. Specifically, Genachowski’s plan to transform the Universal Service Fund into a "Connect America Fund", which will shift tens of billions of dollars over the next decade to funding the construction of broadband networks in rural America, could be at risk.

Nearly 2 million Americans have told the FCC and Congress to protect Net Neutrality, and thousands have come out in support of the FCC's move to reclassify broadband. But now we need your voice! Here are three way you can help: 

Photo: The Public Record

A couple of weeks ago, you may have received an email from me asking you to help us Save the Internet. Over 1,000 organizations have responded to date, signing on to a letter to the FCC, asking the Chairman to protect the Internet for the nonprofit sector and the work we do.

Thanks to you, the FCC is getting behind just what we asked for: regulating the Internet in the same way that telephone service is, ensuring that providers treat all content equally.  

Now the fun starts: the public debate.

Flickr Photo by Chi KingThe Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comment on how to draft America's national broadband plan. It's essential that they hear from us.

If you're an NTEN Member -- or have been lurking around for awhile -- you know that Universal Broadband Access is an issue we care deeply about.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 set aside $7.2 billion for broadband stimulus. It also requires the FCC to begin drafting a national broadband plan. The plan will help determine the future of Internet access across the country.

As organizations with a stake in the future of communications, we must ensure that the commissioners hear our call for fast, affordable, ubiquitous, and open Internet access.

You have until Friday, June 8, to file comments online at the FCC website.

I learned about the public comment period in an email from Free Press. They're doing some fabulous organizing around universal access and have provided some basic talking points for comments to the FCC. Read the quick facts below, see Free Press for more info, and comment today!