Friday, December 22, 2017

Save net neutrality (signatures needed)


The petition to Congress reads:
"Save net neutrality. Support the joint resolution of disapproval overturning the FCC's reversal of the 2015 Open Internet rules."
Add your name:
Sign the petition ►

Tell Congress: Save net neutrality
Last week, Trump's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tried to kill the open internet. They ignored millions of Americans to end the internet as we know it and give big cable companies control of what we say and do online.
But this fight isn't over. Congress has the authority to overturn the FCC's vote. Congress can use a "resolution of disapproval" to reverse this disastrous decision and restore the rules that protect the open internet.1 In both the House and Senate, members of Congress are planning to introduce these resolutions – now we need to get others to sign on.
Millions of Americans called on the FCC to keep the internet working the way it is now – instead of letting big cable companies control what all Americans see, say and do online. But Trump's FCC Chairman Ajit Pai ignored us, and on Dec. 14, the FCC rushed to kill net neutrality. The agency dismissed the fact that the public comment process was corrupted by millions of fake comments and ignored requests to delay or cancel the vote from 18 state attorneys general, Republican and Democratic members of Congress, the creator of the internet, and of course millions of people who depend on the internet every day.2
Congress has the power and the responsibility to right this wrong. Thanks to the Congressional Review Act, Congress can review new regulations – in this case, the FCC's Orwellian-sounding “Restoring Internet Freedom” rule – and overrule them by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.3 Republicans in Congress used the process earlier this year when they repealed important broadband privacy protections. And in the Senate, even the minority party can force a resolution of disapproval to a vote – making every senator go on the record for or against net neutrality.
Losing the open internet is particularly harmful for communities of color, who rely on the open internet to organize, create economic opportunity and fight back against oppression.4 More than 80 percent of Americans support net neutrality,5 and more than 1 million people called Congress in the last month alone, asking their representatives to save net neutrality.
Free speech and civil rights champions throughout history have faced setbacks, but they did not back down. The fight for a free and open internet is no different. We will continue to fight until we restore the rules that protect the internet as a platform for free speech, organizing, innovation and community building.
Trump's FCC chair has shown that he is in the pocket of big telecom companies. But unlike the FCC, members of Congress are elected and they must answer to us.
Tell Congress: Save net neutrality. Support the resolution of disapproval condemning the FCC's repeal of net neutrality. Click the link below to sign the petition:
Add your name:
Sign the petition ►
References:
  1. Kate Conger and Dell Cameron, "Wait, can Congress stop the FCC from trampling net neutrality?" Gizmodo, Dec. 14, 2017.
  2. Ted Johnson, "FCC repeals net neutrality rules amid protests, lawsuit threats," Variety, Dec. 14, 2017.
  3. Conger and Cameron, "Wait, can Congress stop the FCC from trampling net neutrality?"
  4. Timothy Karr, "Voices for Internet Freedom: FCC chairman's anti-net neutrality plan will harm people of color," Voices for Internet Freedom, April 26, 2017.
  5. Harper Neidig, "Poll: 83 percent of voters support keeping FCC's net neutrality rules," The Hill, Dec. 12, 2017.

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