proposal. This would be a powerful way of delivering to low-income Americans the online freedom of speech—a freedom which too many today enjoy only in theory. The bottom line? Bridging the digital divide is my highest priority as FCC Chairman. To work, to learn, to educate, to heal, but most relevant here, to we cannot fail or falter. It speak, won’t be easy, but we’ll keep going. America’s civic future, including the tradition of free expression, depend on it. I’ll close where I began—in the 18th century. Our first President was quoteworthy in many respects, but one quote in particular has always caught my fancy. George Washington remarked that the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like “[i]f sheep to the slaughter.” A strong platform that allows the people to share their ideas and inform themselves about current affairs forestalls that fate. And in a remarkably short time, the Internet has become one such platform. The FCC’s charge and our cultural traditions remind us that we need to extend that online megaphone to all Americans. I look forward to working with you to do that—and to fulfilling this timeless vision for the digital age.
proposal. This would be a powerful way of delivering to low-income Americans the online freedom of speech—a freedom which too many today enjoy only in theory. The bottom line? Bridging the digital divide is my highest priority as FCC Chairman. To work, to learn, to educate, to heal, but most relevant here, to speak, we cannot fail or falter. It won’t be easy, but we’ll keep going. America’s civic future, including the tradition of free expression, depend on it. I’ll close where I began—in the 18th century. Our first President was quoteworthy in many respects, but one quote in particular has always caught my fancy. George Washington remarked that “[i]f the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” A strong platform that allows the people to share their ideas and inform themselves about current affairs forestalls that fate. And in a remarkably short time, the Internet has become one such platform. The FCC’s charge and our cultural traditions remind us that we need to extend that online megaphone to all Americans. I look forward to working with you to do that—and to fulfilling this timeless vision for the digital age.
DOC-346747A1.docx