WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - August 12, 2010) - As the Net Neutrality debate rages on in Washington, the Open Internet Coalition is extending the deadline of the America's Got Net YouTube contest, giving more Americans the time they need to make their voices heard. Consumers will now have until midnight PDT September 30th to upload their video, telling the world what the open Internet means to them.
"This issue is about more than the impact on big companies. It is about the 230 million Internet users in the country who care about being able to access open, fast and affordable broadband," said Markham Erickson, Executive Director of the Open Internet Coalition. "That is why we are encouraging all Americans to take this opportunity to speak up. Tell us what the open Internet means to you and demand the FCC protect it."
Videos created by small businesses, non-profits and individuals will be judged by some of the Internet's most influential celebrities including Jesse Dylan, Director of the Emmy Award-Winning "Yes We Can" music video; Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist; Susan Crawford, former Special Assistant for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy for the Obama Administration; Jolie O'Dell of Mashable; and Personal Democracy Forum founders Andrew Rasiej and Micah Sifry.
Winners will receive a prize package containing an Amazon Kindle DX, Google Nexus One Phone, Slingbox PRO-HD, Skype mobile phone plus one year of Skype Unlimited World Calling, and a Sony bloggie. Small business and non-profit winners will also win free advertising and promotion, the chance to be featured in an Open Internet Coalition ad campaign, and a VIP trip to D.C. to meet with key decision makers on the open Internet.
Contest Details:
America's Got Net is open to U.S.-based individuals, small businesses and non-profit/charitable organizations that demonstrate the benefits of the open Internet. Applications for the contest, which runs through September 30, 2010, are available online at www.youtube.com/americasgotnet2010
Finalists will be announced mid-October.
About the Open Internet Coalition: The Open Internet Coalition (www.openinternetcoalition.com) represents consumers, grassroots organizations, and businesses working in pursuit of a shared goal: keeping the Internet fast, open and accessible to all Americans.