The Rock the Net campaign has rallied rock stars to speak out in support of Net Neutrality. Net Neutrality is the idea that the phone company should just pass along the web-pages, videos and emails you request (which seems like an obviously good idea). The alternative, Net Discrimination, would allow phone companies to hold back or slow down the stuff you ask for, unless the company who's serving it to you has paid them a bribe for "premium service."
A good explanation of this idea comes from Craig "craigslist" Newmark: "Let's say you call Joe's Pizza and the first thing you hear is a message saying you'll be connected in a minute or two, but if you want, you can be connected to Pizza Hut right away."
The Rock the Net campaign, made up mostly of musicians who are on smaller record labels or none at all, said they are fearful that if the so-called "Net neutrality" principle is abandoned their music may not be heard because they do not have the financial means to pay for preferential treatment…
Former musician Jenny Toomey, who is now executive director of the Future of Music Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group for independent musicians, said this issue is so important that it has even attracted some big name artists, such as R.E.M., Sarah McLachlan and even Kronos Quartet, a classical musical string ensemble.
(via /.)