Eshoo Signs Declaration of Internet Freedom

Joins 75,000 people who have signed the pro-net neutrality pledge

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/28/2012 4:52:09 PM

Add the signature of Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) to those who have signed the Declaration of Internet Freedom, which was launched July 2 by a host of net neutrality backers, from ACLU and Free Press to Mozilla and reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian.

"Through its open and transparent structure, the Internet has transformed into a platform supporting thousands of innovative companies, applications and services and millions of new jobs. I've always been a consistent defender of an open Internet in Congress," said Eshoo, cochair of the congressional Internet caucus, in a statement. "I'm pleased to continue this advocacy by signing the Declaration of Internet Freedom."

According to Free Press, so far four legislators are among the 75,000 or so individuals (plus 1,800 groups/organizations) that have signed on to the four-point pledge, which boils down to rejecting censorship, promoting openness, protecting innovation and securing privacy and individual control.

Eshoo joins Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). All four were opponents of online piracy legislation SOPA and PROTECT IP (PIPA), which they argued gave content owners the power to block websites on mere suspicion of piracy.