Net Neutrality rules prevent broadband Internet access providers, such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon, from unreasonably discriminating against or blocking lawful content and applications. This principle has always governed the Internet, ensuring a robust Internet economy and a level playing field for all voices online.
In February 2015, after a year-long rulemaking process that drew a record-breaking number of public comments, the FCC voted to protect Net Neutrality by restoring it to the solid legal foundation improperly abandoned during the Bush administration. The vast majority of Americans — spanning the political spectrum — support these rules.
But some in Congress are trying to use the appropriations process to undermine Net Neutrality by burying three riders in Sections 628–630 of the financial services appropriations bill that funds the FCC. These sections would prohibit the FCC from protecting the open Internet.
The Internet has grown from a fad to an essential tool to a platform that’s catalyzed a growing political constituency.
Pollsters have identified a fast-growing, educated group of “digital voters” who spend several hours a day online. This group supports Net Neutrality, worries about intrusions on their privacy and believes the Internet is a crucial service that everyone should be able to access.
According to a survey Freedman Consulting conducted after the 2014 midterm elections, 60 percent of voters said they’re more likely to support a government official who’s “committed to protecting the free and open Internet.”
And those are just midterm voters. Those numbers will likely rise in a presidential year, when more young voters and people of color cast ballots.
This emerging Internet constituency cuts across party lines. These voters aren’t united by ideology or partisanship. They’re up for grabs.
What does unite the Internet community is a shared set of values around free speech, individual choice, universal access, privacy and openness. They’re connected by the Internet but motivated by what the Internet empowers them to do: innovate without permission, tell their own stories without filters and organize without gatekeepers.
And over the last few years there’s been a dramatic upswing in Internet activism.
The CEO and President of Free Press, Craig Aaron, talks about the importance of voters that believe in a free and open Internet.
“Maybe every so often we can be on the side of the American people,” Rep. Jose Serrano said, “and not corporations.”
Those are fighting words — but unfortunately the House majority doesn’t seem to be heeding them. Not when it comes to Net Neutrality.
This afternoon the House appropriations committee voted against two amendments — one from Serrano, one from Rep. Nita Lowey — to remove anti-Net Neutrality language from a must-pass government-funding package.
The anti-Net Neutrality provisions — buried deep within this 158-page bill — would strip the FCC of the money it needs to enforce its open Internet protections. The provisions would also prevent the rules from remaining in effect until after the court cases challenging them have been decided — a process that could take years.
“You’re not supposed to legislate in an appropriations bill,” Serrano said, noting that a federal court had already rejected an attempt from the cable, phone and wireless lobbies to delay implementation of the rules.
The Federal Communications Commission has moved forward with plans to include broadband under its Lifeline program, which currently subsidizes landline and wireless phone services for those in low-income situations. The reform will have a comments period before it is reviewed and possibly put into law.
Major internet providers, including AT&T, Time Warner and Verizon, are slowing data from popular websites to thousands of US businesses and residential customers in dozens of cities across the country, according to a study released on Monday.
The study, conducted by internet activists BattlefortheNet, looked at the results from 300,000 internet users and found significant degradations on the networks of the five largest internet service providers (ISPs), representing 75% of all wireline households across the US.
The findings come weeks after the Federal Communications Commission introduced new rules meant to protect “net neutrality” – the principle that all data is equal online – and keep ISPs from holding traffic speeds for ransom.
Tim Karr of Free Press, one of the groups that makes up BattlefortheNet, said the findings show ISPs are not providing content to users at the speeds they’re paying for.
“For too long, internet access providers and their lobbyists have characterized net neutrality protections as a solution in search of a problem,” said Karr. “Data compiled using the Internet Health Test show us otherwise – that there is widespread and systemic abuse across the network. The irony is that this trove of evidence is becoming public just as many in Congress are trying to strip away the open internet protections that would prevent such bad behavior.”
By taking the Internet Health Test, everyday Internet users helped build the data set that lead to these discoveries.
You can help uncover possible Net Neutrality violations by taking the Internet Health Test.
It’s official: The FCC’s Net Neutrality rules went into effect today.
Read all about it here: http://bit.ly/1C3mW27
Let’s get ready to rumble!
Net Neutral-i-Kitty and Cable Boss have arrived at the FCC.
The cat fight for the future of the Internet is about to begin! Stay-tuned for more.
Yes, this is a real thing …
In DC? Stop by the FCC tomorrow (1/29) morning - you don’t want to miss this epic event.
Can’t make it - don’t worry - we’ll be posting videos and pictures.
MORE here.
In one month the FCC will vote on Net Neutrality.
Join the Internet Countdown and show lawmakers the whole Internet is watching and literally counting down the seconds until we get REAL Net Neutrality.
Word has leaked that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is building a new Frankenstein proposal that’s not Net Neutrality.
The plan is convoluted with too many of the huge problems we’ve been protesting against all year.
phonejustice