OneWebDay , patterned after Earth Day for the Internet eco-system, will be celebrated on Monday (Sept. 22) with events all over the planet to focus attention this year on the value of online participation in democracy, to focus on local Internet concerns and to create a global constituency to protect the Net.

With Ohio being one of the key battlegrounds for 2008, it's only appropriate that the two presidential campaigns will be participating in a OneWebDay event starting at 10:30 a.m. EDT in Cincinnati, sponsored by Media Bridges , Cincy's media arts & education center, which provides the education, equipment and environment to assist people in communicating effectively through media.

And Skype will be in the center of the action.

Christopher Libertelli, Skype's senior director of government & regulatory affairs, explains how:

"Skype's goal is to enable conversations. In this case, we're enabling a conversation between the two Presidential campaigns about the future of the Internet.

"This is the first time that I know of that campaigns are using a technology like Skype, which is emblematic of the fight for an open Internet. On Monday, you will have both Republicans and Democrats using the same technology to have a conversation about the laws and regulations that would govern the future of the Internet. It's a tangible example of what's at stake."

Gigi Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge will speak on behalf of Senator Obama's campaign. Michael Powell, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, will represent Senator McCain's camp.

In an interview, Libertelli provided some perspective on the campaigns' tech policies.

Skype USA: Net Neutrality is one of the key differences between the candidates? What is Net Neutrality?
Libertelli: Net Neutrality is about whether we're going to have an open Internet or a closed Internet, meaning whether we're going to have laws where phone companies and cable operators can decide what kind of traffic gets onto the Internet, or whether we're going to have laws that prevent cable and phone companies from deciding which kind of Web traffic goes fast or slow or which is favored or disfavored.

Skype has a clear position on Net Neutrality. We want a non-discrimination rule that protects the Skype experience on the Internet.

Skype USA: Isn't this issue bigger than Skype?
Libertelli: It's industry-wide. Absolutely. The question of innovation on the Web includes Skype; but it is also much bigger than Skype.

For the last year and a half, Skype has been advocating applying openness rules to the wireless Web. Right now, mobile phone companies block the Skype experience on cell phones.

Skype USA: Wasn't the FCC divided on this?
Libertelli: The FCC is still considering Skype's petition to open up mobile phones.

Skype USA: We're talking about the Presidential campaign here. Is this only a big deal for Skype? Why should consumers care?
Libertelli: This is an important issue for the consumer. The issue of Net Neutrality is one where there are some pretty stark differences between the McCain approach and the Obama approach. I cannot say that Net Neutrality is as important as an energy policy, financial market regulation or some of the other things that the Presidential candidates are talking about. But it is one of the most important technology policy issues that both campaigns are thinking about.

Skype USA: The Obama campaign very clearly states that they're in favor of Net Neutrality and McCain states the opposite.
Libertelli: What will be interesting is to hear the McCain and Obama people talking about openness using Skype. This is a moment where people can see what's at stake. The issue is whether these kinds of conversations will be blocked by the network operators.

Skype USA: Which candidate supports a rule to stop blocking if it occurs?
Libertelli: Obama proposes a rule that would make that practice illegal. It is a question for the McCain campaign: Does their stance block the blockers? Does it allow for these Skype conversations to happen on the Internet?

Skype USA: Why does McCain take this position?
Libertelli: The current telecom policy is a deregulatory policy. The question is whether we're going to have a continuation of these deregulatory policies or whether voters want change and a movement away from deregulation in telecom.

Skype USA: Doesn't the public sometimes need regulation?
Libertelli: Recent events on Wall Street suggest that safeguards to protect consumers may be necessary.

Skype USA: Are we seeing a backlash toward a pro-regulation age?
Libertelli: I think we're heading back to an efficient regulation age.

Skype USA: So maybe I'll finally be able get a 3 Skypephone mobile phone and make a call on Skype in the U.S. as I recently did in the U.K.?
Libertelli: That's where the rubber meets the road. Our openness policy is designed to make Skype available to U.S. consumers so they can make free calls. That is what this is about for us. It's to create a situation where you can go out and buy an unlocked GSM phone and access to the Internet, download Skype and off you go.

There have been some baby steps towards more openness. There have been press releases from wireless operators. We filed a lletter last week with the FCC that made it clear that if the Commission thought that the wireless industry was going to speed toward a broad policy of openness, they may have been mistaken.

Skype USA: Should we vote for president on the basis of Net Neutrality?
Libertelli: In part.

Skype USA: Where else do the campaigns differ? What about broadband policy?
Libertelli: There are some differences there. In order to have an open Internet, you have to have access to the Internet in the first place. People in rural areas need help getting onto the Internet at affordable rates.

Senator Obama has proposed a way of funding broadband Internet service to those areas by using the Universal Service Fund, an enormous pot of money that is used to keep phone service affordable in rural areas. It's phone-centric funding. Sen. Obama wants to repurpose that money and make it friendlier for broadband services.

It appears that Senator McCain's approach is more skeptical that the fund should be used for rural broadband. His approach is different. He has proposed some tax credits that would be used by companies to roll out broadband.

To take this discussion up a level, the purpose of OneWebDay is to bring activists, academics and entrepreneurs around the planet together and celebrate the Internet for one day and to focus on Net Neutrality for one day, so policymakers can see that there is a constituency out there that cares about openness on the Internet. We're going to see that on Monday when there is a conversation between the two campaigns that is facilitated by Skype.

Skype USA: By the way, has Skype made contributions to either of these campaigns?
Libertelli: Skype doesn't have a PAC (Political Action Committee). Skype isn't an entity that can make political contributions.