When I was searching the Defense Bill for the section on the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Act, I just happened to see Section 1245 on Page 730 concerning the Iranian Electronic Education, Exchange and Media Fund. The section reads as follows: this fund "will support the development of technologies including websites to aid the Iranian people to gain access and share information; exercise freedom of speech and freedom of assembly through internet and other electronic media; engage in internet-based education programs between Americans and Iranians; and counter efforts to block, censor and monitor the Internet and disrupt or monitor cellular phone networks..." The section then goes on to state that "to support these objectives, grants will be given to foreign and US universities, non-profit organizations or companies for targeted projects that advance the purpose of this fund."
Here are some project examples: "Developing Farsi language versions of existing social network sites; developing technology and applications, including internet-based applications to counter efforts to block or censor the internet or to disrupt cell phone networks/SMS text messages, and the development of internet-based distance learning projects promoting religious and cultural exchange."
Twenty million dollars have been allocated to this fund.
On the surface it sounds very good and noble. Everyone remembers the heroism of the tweeters after the Iranian elections. We should help them right? It seems certainly like the right thing to do. However, we need to ask ourselves some very important questions. Why are we allocating funds to help other countries gain freedom of speech, assembly and communication when we are allowing the FCC to advance plans for Internet Neutrality which will impose burdensome government regulations and restrictions on our internet here at home, quite possibly leading to total government control of all internet communications? Why are our legislators holding hearings on supporting freedom of speech and release of bloggers from prison in Vietnam (see my previous post about this--HR 672) when at the same time they and the WH are becoming increasingly hostile to internet and media dissenting opinion here in America? It makes no sense at all to funnel serious cash towards programs to support free speech and better communication in other countries while stifling it at home!
Contact your reps immediately and let them know you know about this section of the Defense Bill. Ask them how they plan to protect free speech here at home. Tell them to support Senator McCain's efforts to block the FCC from initiating Internet Neutrality! Ask them if they even knew this section was in the Defense Bill. After all, it was over 1500 pages long and if they had no plans to read the Health Care Bill because it was too long it stands to reason they didn't read this one either! Demand that they stand up for internet and other forms of media freedom of speech right here in America before they allocate one more dollar to helping free speech in other countries! We want to help...but we can't help if we sacrifice ourselves and our country in the process!
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