OK, that may sound like an exaggeration. But next week the Federal Communications Commission is coming to the Boston area -- Cambridge, to be exact -- for an important public hearing on what the next generation of the Internet will look like.

The hearing is part of the FCC's ongoing investigation into Comcast's blocking of Internet traffic. But there's much more at stake. We are at a critical juncture where it will be decided whether we have a closed Internet controlled by a small handful of giant corporations, or an open Internet controlled by the people who use it.

Comcast wants the former -- to dictate which Web sites and services go fast or slow or don't load at all. And they're backed by the other would-be gatekeepers at AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner.

Boston, We Have a (Broadband) Problem

In recent months, these cable and phone companies have repeatedly been caught blocking, filtering, and spying on consumers' Internet activities. If we let them get away with this, these powerful companies will continue to roll back our freedoms whenever we go online.

That's why it so important for those of us who want the free and open Internet to stay that way -- especially if you live in New England -- to show up at Harvard on Monday. Here are the details we know so far:

WHAT: A Public Hearing on the Future of the Internet
WHEN: Monday, Feb 25, 2008
TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Harvard Law School, Ames Courtroom, Austin Hall
1515 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

We've set up a Web site at www.savetheinternet.com/=boston where you can find directions, sign up for more information, and use our automated system to tell your friends about this event.

We'll update that page -- and the blog -- with more details about speakers and public involvement as soon as we have them. But since we can't count on the FCC to publicize this event, we'll have to start spreading the word ourselves.

Show up. Speak up. And let’s hope this important hearing in Massachusetts is just the beginning of a national conversation that spreads to every town and city across the country.