“That’s where National Public Radio comes in. The cost to NPR to play music will increase substantially. The costs to your local public radio station — those entities who are always begging for cash as it is — will increase substantially. Given the economics of the situation, it makes sense that if this ruling stands, these stations will chose to change their business models. Right now, they’re actively increasing audiences by streaming and podcasting and broadcasting online. That’s going to stop if the cost goes up.”

Defending Net neutrality and creative expression are going to be big calling cards for NPR in the next 10 years. The US is erupting in a civil war that is pitting outdated models (Current patent office practices, Recording Industry, loss of civil liberties and privacy) against individuals. The ONLY media outlet that has an INTEREST in protecting the individual’s rights is NPR.

NPR has an interest in having their listeners produce more and more of the content on NPR. NPR survives by delivering better content, not just more efficient delivery of any content.

NPR has an interest in seeing a stable, accessible and low cost internet. The biggest loser in the Net Neutrality fight could be NPR.

Those of my readers in the US: Your NPR station probably seems like a smalltime player in the bigger picture, but don’t make that mistake!, they are the ones who will go to the wall for you when you finally need them. They are the only ones who actually care about you, your rights and your country.

I can say that and not feel like I am exaggerating at all.