*This post is an edited version to our 2015 post where the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted in favor of net neutrality regulations.*
Two years ago, on Feb. 26th, 2015 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted in favor of new net neutrality regulations! This was a big relief to those of us who had been avid supporters of net neutrality regulations and what that could mean for the freedom of the internet. You can read more about our thoughts and a little background: here. Those new regulations, if fully implemented, would mean that the internet service providers could not discriminate which sites and services customers would get access to. Big deal. Keeping the internet open and free. Today, we are back fighting the same battle as The FCC have proposed to end net neutrality, and they are trying to force a vote on their plan on December 14th, 2017.
Here was a hand written note, adressed to Redditors, by Obama back in 2015:
Big supporters, like John Oliver, were certainly happy with the decision. On his show “Last Week Tonight” last season, Oliver had thousands of viewers visit the FCC’s website, demanding net neutrality protection, which caused the comments section of the site to crash. He has responded to critics of the regulations, like Rep. Tom McClintock “who described net neutrality as the idea that ‘the latest cat video is of equal importance to a teleconference consultation to a heart patient.’”
His response to this McClintock cited in an article on Mediaite by Matt Wilstein:
“You are misunderstanding what net neutrality is,” Oliver told the critics. “Cat videos are part of the point.” As he explained it, the policy is about keeping internet service providers from “picking a choosing whose voices get heard, ensuring that the internet remains a democratic space for all messages.” And that goes for cat videos, too.”
Right now, we are back in the same dangerous territory of potentially killing net neutrality. Killing net neutrality equals the end of open internet as you’ve known it. Currently, you can go online and connect with friends, watch whatever videos you like, visit any website you want and read the news outlets that you prefer. You’re reading this online right now. The internet after killing net neutrality would be a much different experience.
This open internet experience we all know is something to be coveted.
From FreePress and SavetheInternet:
When you go online you have certain expectations. You expect to be connected to whatever website you want. You expect that your cable or phone company isn’t messing with the data and is connecting you to all websites, applications, and content you choose. You expect to be in control of your internet experience. When you use the internet you expect Net Neutrality. Net Neutrality is the basic principle that prohibits internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from speeding up, slowing down or blocking any content, applications or websites you want to use. Net Neutrality is the way that the internet has always worked.
So, what can you do? You can have a voice. You can add your voice in to be heard. Let’s battle like we did back in 2015 and win (again) strong Net Neutrality rules.
One of the Federal Communications Commission’s top five officials has urged Americans to “make a ruckus” in response to the agency’s plan to vote next month on a policy to gut net neutrality. In an op-ed published Wednesday in the Los Angeles Times, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel issued an urgent plea for the public to call or write to the FCC before the Dec. 14 vote.
The FCC will vote on this Net Neutrality-killing plan on December 14th, 2017. You can make your voice heard by simply clicking here to leave your comments on the plan dissuading the decision. You can also click here to tell your members of Congress how you feel. After all, they are working for you. We have to stand together to condemn this plan and the attack on open internet.
