With the explosive growth of the Internet, we now have the potential for a truly democratic media system offering a wide variety of independent sources of news, information and culture, with control over content in the hands of the many rather than a few. But powerful communications companies have other plans. Assisted by a host of hired political operatives and pro-business policy makers, the big media providers are using their political clout to gain ever greater control over the Internet. Chester offers a clarion call for new media to serve public interests.