People + Policy
= Positive Change for the Public Good
Submitted by bill brown on Mon, 09/29/2014 - 5:30pm
SAVE THE INTERNET
Stop the Trump administration's attack on Net Neutrality.
Scroll down to take action.
Step One
SIGN THE PETITION
Step Two
MAKE THE CALL
Enter your phone number and zip code below and we'll connect you directly to your senators.
Here's a sample script for you to use during your call:
Hello. I'm calling to urge Sen. _______ to reject any attacks on real Net Neutrality. Net Neutrality is essential for protecting free speech, organizing, business and innovation. I will not stand for any attacks on Net Neutrality or my rights as an internet user.
Step Three
SPREAD THE WORD
Net Neutrality keeps the internet free and open — enabling anyone to share and access information of their choosing without interference from companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.
But the Trump administration wants to shut down the open internet.
The Federal Communications Commission passed historic rules protecting Net Neutrality in 2015, but Trump’s FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, wants to destroy them. Despite Net Neutrality’s popularity across the political spectrum, Pai is conspiring right now with industry lobbyists to take away these crucial protections.
Net Neutrality is essential to education, economic opportunity, social movements and dissent. The Trump administration is about to find out the hard way what happens if you mess with the internet.
The Stakes Are High
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has vowed to take a “weed whacker” to the Net Neutrality rules. He’s also moving fast to undermine other key consumer protections. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have a better chance than ever before of passing industry-backed laws that harm the open internet.
The Fight’s Not Over
Companies like Comcast and Verizon aren’t used to losing in Washington, and they’ll do everything they can to knock down the FCC's rules. But now a new threat has emerged: President Trump and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai want to get rid of Net Neutrality and let the cable and phone companies control the internet.
What Can We Do To Fight Back?
It took millions of people signing petitions, bombarding the FCC with comments and protesting in the streets to win the Net Neutrality rules. We need to do all that — and more — to beat back the very real threats facing us now. Free Press is already working with a diverse network of allies to hold Chairman Pai accountable and defeat bad legislation in Congress. But we can’t do it alone: join the fight now.
Click here to see the
TIMELINE of the NET NEUTRALITY FIGHT
Jan. 14, 2014:
A federal court strikes down the FCC’s 2010 Open Internet Order.
April 19:
The FCC’s new proposal is leaked — and public interest in Net Neutrality soars.
May 15:
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler officially proposes his flawed rules. Hundreds of people converge outside the FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. and rallies break out in cities across the U.S.
July 15:
On the day initial public comments on the FCC’s proposal are due, the agency’s servers crash thanks to the heavy traffic. Within a few short hours Free Press and allies mobilize to hand-deliver hundreds of thousands of comments. The agency makes the unprecedented move of extending its deadline by three days.
July-August:
The SUMMER TO SAVE THE INTERNET: Activists participate in dozens upon dozens of in-district meetings with congressional offices, rally outside fundraisers President Obama attends in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and file comments in record numbers at the FCC in favor of real Net Neutrality.
Sept. 10:
The Internet Slowdown. On Sept. 10, hundreds of organizations and online companies — including Netflix, Kickstarter, Etsy and Tumblr — display a spinning icon representing a slow-loading Internet on their websites. This massive day of action drives 2 million emails and nearly 300,000 calls to Congress, and 777,364 people file comments with the FCC.
Sept. 15:
The period for public reply comments closes. A record-breaking 3.7 million people have filed comments — and most support real Net Neutrality. Big rallies are held in New York City and Philadelphia.
Oct. 21
Activists rally in College Station, Texas, and pack a hearing convened by FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, a Net Neutrality foe.
Oct. 27
Free Press and allies organize a big speakout in New York City to highlight the voices of the communities the FCC's decision will most impact.
Oct. 30
The Wall Street Journal reports on new rules under consideration — rules that would still allow slow lanes online. A huge backlash follows in the press and among public interest groups.
Nov. 10
President Obama releases a video statement urging the FCC to reclassify broadband under Title II.
Jan. 7, 2015
Chairman Wheeler signals that he will likely base new Net Neutrality rules on Title II. He announces that a vote on these rules will take place on Feb. 26.
Feb. 4, 2015
Chairman Wheeler confirms that his new rules use Title II to give Internet users the strongest protections possible.
Feb. 26, 2015
Victory! The FCC approves Title II-based rules that ban blocking, throttling and paid prioritization online.
May 13, 2015
Free Press files a legal motion to intervene in the industry-backed court case challenging the FCC's Net Neutrality rules.
Sept. 21, 2015
Free Press files a joint legal brief to defend the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules.
June 14, 2016
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected an industry challenge and upheld the FCC's Open Internet Order in all respects, stating that the agency exercised its proper authority when it reclassified broadband internet access as a telecom service under Title II of the Communications Act.
Join Us
Our rights to connect and communicate — via universally accessible, open, affordable and fast communications networks and devices — are essential to our individual, economic and political freedoms.
And right now — when the rights of undocumented immigrants, people of color, religious minorities, women and the LGBTQ community are under attack — we need the open internet to mobilize and fight back.
