Letting the Internet industry do whatever it wants, is not the answer. The responsibility for delivering a safe, lawful alternative must be placed on the providers of the Internet, not on the victims of unwanted Internet obscenity. In every other industry (food, drugs, automobiles, toys, etc.) companies are required to provide products and services in compliance with federal law—why not the Internet industry?
The Internet was created by government-sponsored initiatives paid for by citizens of the United States. Yet there is no safe, general community Internet alternative for the millions of citizens in the United States who want one. An attitudinal poll conducted by Common Sense Media in June 2006, showed that 85% of parents believe that the Internet posed the greatest risk to their children among all forms of media. If this were an issue of toys and the law said that toys should come without high levels of lead (which it does), would it be too much to ask that companies be required to offer alternative toys without those levels of lead? Anything less would seem highly irresponsible. Likewise, it seems irresponsible that ISPs in our country are not required to offer a general community Internet service that is in compliance with federal obscenity laws.
If we don’t stand up for the well-being of our children and grandchildren, who will?