ISPs Blocking Gambling Related sites in the USA

[jetset]

I don't believe you can equate resistance to the US approach to weapons of mass destruction (which was a pretty scary thought back then) with ISP filtering of online gambling sites, Lou.

The latter is actually likely to make for more domestic public interest imo because it directly impinges on the individual's right to choose his or her entertainment and the fundamental right of being able to access a resource as free and powerful as the Internet.

I therefore continue to believe that this would be a major cause of public aggravation. Time will tell, if this incident is what you believe it to be, and in the meantime you have your opinion and I have mine.

I was actually trying to contact Adelphia for a press comment today at http://www.adelphia.com/contact_us/ because I would like to hear more detail from them and pose a few questions based on the Professor's post in order to test their side of the story.

Regrettably the site is very US-oriented and as a foreign enquirer I could not get past the on-site enquiry email form with my details.

Then I got to wondering whether it might not be an idea for (perhaps the Prof?) to contact a inquisitive journalist and interest him or her in pursuing this story with Adelphia? Having a newshound sniffing around may make them more inclined to expand on what seems to be a dubious response thus far, and this is the sort of story that has really good and provocative potential.

[GrandMaster]

I wish the same amount of effort went into stopping spam (the CAN-SPAM Act is a very appropriate name, spammer can spam) and blocking sites selling V1@gra and Ci@l1s.

[winbig]

I wish the same amount of effort went into stopping spam (the CAN-SPAM Act is a very appropriate name, spammer can spam) and blocking sites selling V1@gra and Ci@l1s.

Such an appropriate and true definition

AFAIK, it's definately illegal to buy meds online (from outside the country) from within the USA, but yet there's nothing in the works to block those sites? So hypocritical. Has anyone else thought that the main force behind this may be the b&m casinos within the USA pressuring the gov't (money talks) into blocking online gambling sites? I'm sure it's got to hurt their bottom line, even by just a little bit.

[Cynthia777]

I was actually trying to contact Adelphia for a press comment today at http://www.adelphia.com/contact_us/ because I would like to hear more detail from them and pose a few questions based on the Professor's post in order to test their side of the story.

Regrettably the site is very US-oriented and as a foreign enquirer I could not get past the on-site enquiry email form with my details.

Jetset,

I'm sure you probably have already noticed this on their website - Link: http://www.adelphia.com/press_room/contacts.cfm but I was just wondering if you were going to pursue it this way, and if you can keep us informed on the status. Since you are in a press/media group, this is very helpful as far as getting more confirmed information, at least from Adelphia's standpoint...

[cipher]

Then I got to wondering whether it might not be an idea for (perhaps the Prof?) to contact a inquisitive journalist and interest him or her in pursuing this story with Adelphia? Having a newshound sniffing around may make them more inclined to expand on what seems to be a dubious response thus far, and this is the sort of story that has really good and provocative potential.

Hi JET:

It might not be a bad idea to approach MICHAEL BRUNKER from MSNBC.com on this. As you may recall he was most helpful to my efforts in getting the word out on the PIRATE fiasco a couple of years ago. I've instant messaged you Michael's email address.

Have a good one.

[Westland Bowl]

Welcome back, Cipher! You have a good one yourself, too!

[mjs]

I know I am new to the forum and late to the discussion, but has anyone considered the possibility that there is another explanation?

Say, for example there actually was a routing issue, and it only affected sites outside of the US. During the outage, did you try any other non-US based sites?

[theAPCW]

Hello all...

I just had my account approved here and am very happy to see you guys are already all over this topic! =0)

I have a link to write to your state rep's in the US : CLICK HERE

And I have a form letter to make your life easier... so change it as you like, tone it down... tone it up... just send something please! Each one you send will be considered the voice of hundreds of others unheard voices!

Write write write!

Dear Rep. ________________,

I am writing you to let you know that one of your constituent, Rep Bob Goodlatte, has introduced a bill (HR 4777) that is unequalled it it's hypocrisy, lies, and discrimination of an industry.

His proposal to ban online gambling is riddled with lies, half-truths, and paranoid suspicions. This industry does not target children and it never has. This industry is not filled with criminals but honest hard working men and women of integrity. This industry does not hurt individuals or their families, but supports patriotic Americans who helped vote you into office.

There are millions of American citizens across this great country who enjoy playing a $20 game of poker online, or spending $50 at an online slot machine, and do so responsibly with no harm to themselves or their families. Goodlatte proposes to penalize these millions of responsible tax-payers by a distorted view of the facts, and by twisting statistics to fit his own moral agenda.

The American people do not support this bill, and I am holding you responsible to make my voice heard on this! The online gaming industry is LEGAL and REGULATED within the United Kingdom! It is accepted and run from other civilized countries around the globe, and the real issue here is MONEY... everything else is smoke and mirrors to support Goodlatte's pursuit of this money.

The online gambling industry did NOT grow to a $12 billion a year business by HURTING people. That $12 billion did NOT come from targeting minors! It came from a dedication to customer service and an HONEST business model. The competition is too great to act unethically, and the rewards are too great to operate dishonestly. In fact, with all the SELF-REGULATION that goes on inside this industry, I dare say we have less dirty laundry that the Congress with which you serve.

Goodlatte has failed to research this subject completely. He has failed to realize the potential of this industry. And he has failed to recognize the will of the American people. I implore you to act before he casts this great nation back into the dark ages of prohibition... which we know does not work.

If you pass this legislation, you will be equally responsible for yet another "war" against your own people. One that will wage for years, and one where honest, responsible, tax paying, patriotic American citizens will be persecuted and prosecuted for an act of recreation which they should have a right to enjoy in the privacy of their own homes.

[managra]

If opponents of this bill really wanted to take a stand on this, the time would be now, while it is in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee. As this link http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade....trotocomm.html quotes:

"Perhaps the most important phase of the legislative process is the action by committees. The committees provide the most intensive consideration to a proposed measure as well as the forum where the public is given their opportunity to be heard."

Thanks for your post, Cynthia. Anyone knows who exactly are members of the House Judiciary Committee so that we can send letters/email to them?

I also like Jetset's idea to pass on the Adelphia incident to the media. It's the right time and the right climate to speak out against yet another attempt to shackle our freedoms.

[winbig]

see below, double posted for some reason.