Baby’s Got Back, but Does America Got Net?

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2010 – The Open Internet Coalition is trying to bolster its cause with America’s Got Net, a user-generated video contest open to small businesses, non-profits and individuals to create short videos to tell policymakers in Washington what the future of the “open internet” means to them.

The effort has enlisted some online gurus such as Craigslist founder Craig Newmark; Susan Crawford, a former special assistant to the Obama administration on science and technology; Jolie O’Dell of Mashable; and Personal Democracy Forum founders Andrew Rasiej and Micah Sifry.

“The open Internet is everyone’s printing press, a big deal in the evolution of democracy, and I really want to help promote democratic values,” said Newmark. “Everyone should take a look at this competition; it’s about using the Internet to save the Internet.”

Winners will be selected in the following categories: best small business, best non-profit/charitable and best individual user.

Winners are eligible for prizes starting with a trip to Washington to meet with policymakers, a package of goodies that include an Amazon Kindle DX, Google Nexus One Phone, one year of Skype Unlimited World Calling, Slingbox PRO-HD, Sony bloggie; and small business and non-profit winners will win free advertising and event opportunities as well as the chance to be featured in an Open Internet Coalition ad campaign.

Applications for the contest, which runs through Aug. 15, are available online at www.youtube.com/americasgotnet2010

Finalists will be announced Sept. 13.