Sign the petition today to restore Net Neutrality

We have the opportunity to restore net neutrality protections for the nation. Congress has until Monday, December 10 to sign a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse the FCC’s disastrous regulations on net neutrality.

Millions of dedicated people like yourself took to the streets, signed petitions, and made calls to protest the decision made by Ajit Pai’s FCC. In response, we passed the strongest net neutrality bill in the country (Senate Bill 822) in California -- but that’s not enough. If we speak out and tap into the energy we had then, we can convince our legislators to restore net neutrality for the entire nation.

Click here to sign a petition asking Congress to pass the CRA and reverse the FCC's net neutrality decision.

If we don’t restore net neutrality, internet service providers (ISPs) can intentionally slow down, block, or charge more to allow prioritized access to specific websites and online content. Net neutrality is necessary in our lives and allows for fair access to the internet, whether you are a journalist, a local activist, or an avid social media user. But we’re up against those pushing for the repeal of net neutrality: huge telecom corporations like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast. We must demand that our legislators listen to us, not corporations.

The good news is the Senate has already passed the CRA with a bipartisan vote, meaning we can restore net neutrality with a majority vote if we get House members on board. Will you join us once again in demanding a fair internet for all?

Sign the petition: restore net neutrality!

-the Courage team

#netneutrality, 

Tell California legislators to pass the net neutrality bills SB 822 and SB 460

California has the most comprehensive state-level net neutrality bills in the country.(1) Senate Bill 822 (Wiener) and Senate Bill 460 (de Leon) would restore all of the net neutrality protections that were stripped by the FCC last year.

But Big Telecom isn’t going down without a fight. They’re doing everything in their power to block passage of SB 822 and SB 460, or at least water down the bills.

States are quickly moving to restore net neutrality protections and aren’t being stopped by the FCC, which doesn’t have authority over state law.(2)  California is home to some of the world’s largest internet companies and can set an example for the nation -- including your home state. Will you join us and our partners in demanding that California legislators uphold a fair and open internet for all?

Tell California legislators to pass the net neutrality bills SB 822 and SB 460.

With the net neutrality repeal in effect, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T are allowed to charge us to access websites and services. But SB 822 and SB 460 would restore in California the net neutrality protections gutted by the FCC’s disastrous decision. If passed, ISPs would be prohibited from blocking content, slowing certain sites or services, or charging new fees for users and companies to reach audiences online.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has claimed that with the new federal net neutrality policy, states cannot circumvent federal law and make their own. However, there isn’t even consensus among legal experts as to if that statement is true with the FCC’s limited power.(3) Washington state just passed their own net neutrality bill, and many other states are moving to do the same. We need to keep up the momentum.

Eighty-three percent of Americans want a free and open Internet.(4) SB 822 and SB 460 would fill this gap for Californians after the FCC stripped consumers of their rights. But Big Telecom lobbyists are using all their resources in states across the country to block legislation that would restore protections for us. Will you help us fight back and win net neutrality in California -- setting an example for even more states to follow?

Sign the letter of support to demand California legislators pass the net neutrality bills.

Yours in the fight,

Brenna, along with Annie, Caitlin, Eddie, Emma, Lindsay, Mai, Mary, Molly, Raquel, Rebecca, Scottie, and Tim (the Courage team)

Footnotes:
1. https://www.wired.com/story/california-net-neutrality-bill-would-go-beyond-original-protections/
2. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/08/in-blow-to-muni-broadband-fcc-loses-bid-to-overturn-state-laws/
3. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/why-ajit-pai-might-fail-in-quest-to-block-state-net-neutrality-laws/
4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/12/12/this-poll-gave-americans-a-detailed-case-for-and-against-the-fccs-net-neutrality-plan-the-reaction-among-republicans-was-striking/

Tell the FCC and DOJ's Antitrust Division: Stop Sinclair

The petition to the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division reads: "Block Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed purchase of Tribune Media, which would create ‘the largest TV broadcast company in the nation' and result in unacceptable levels of media concentration." Add your name:

Imagine Donald Trump writing a script for every news anchor in America to read on the air. If you saw the chilling viral video of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, you can imagine it all too easily. News anchors from many of Sinclair's 193 local broadcast stations mechanically read the same text warning about "fake news" on other stations.1 Forcing journalists to spread suspicion about other journalists is not normal. This is a wake-up call about the extreme right-wing bias and lack of journalistic independence of Sinclair's massive right-wing media empire. And unless the Federal Communications Commission or Department of Justice stops Sinclair's proposed merger with Tribune Media, that network will get even larger. Tell the FCC and the Department of Justice: Block the Sinclair deal. Click here to sign the petition. Sinclair has a long history of force-feeding local stations “must-run” conservative segments from its national headquarters. The company’s disturbing track record includes:2,3,4 Striking a sweetheart deal with the Trump campaign, with Jared Kushner claiming that they gave Sinclair access in return for less-critical coverage. Requiring local news anchors to announce their support for President George W. Bush’s war on terrorism following the September 11 attacks. Sending a crew to Iraq in 2004 to find more “positive” Iraq War stories to report. Airing a 2008 special criticizing then-Sen. Barack Obama. It should come as no surprise then that as soon as Trump entered the White House, he met with Sinclair's CEO to talk about "potential FCC rule changes" to help the company.5 Since then, Trump's FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has pushed through a series of radical rule changes to help out Sinclair. Among other sweetheart deals, Pai scrapped FCC rules on media ownership to allow Sinclair – already the biggest television operator in the country – to acquire another network and grow even bigger. If they succeed, Trump and Pai could permanently change the U.S. media landscape. The proposed mega-merger that would leave Sinclair with an incredible 223 stations covering 72 percent of U.S. households.6 No one media company should have that much power. Tell the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice: Block the Sinclair deal. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop-sinclair/?t=7&akid=28026%2E3130208%2EN_bVM_ - Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Timothy Burke, How America's Largest Local TV Owner Turned Its News Anchors Into Soldiers In Trump's War On The Media," Deadspin, March 31, 2018. Josh Dawsey and Hadas Gold, "Kushner: We struck deal with Sinclair for straighter coverage," POLITICO, Dec. 16, 2016. Sydney Ember, "Sinclair Requires TV Stations to Air Segments That Tilt to the Right," The New York Times, May 12, 2017. Michael Calderone and Lydia O’Connor, "A Trump-Friendly Media Company Is About To Get Even Bigger," HuffPost, May 9, 2017./li> Claire Atkinson and Josh Kosman, "Sinclair is close to buying all of Tribune’s TV stations," New York Post, March 14, 2017. "Sen. Maria Cantwell et al., "Letter to FCC Inspector General David L. Hunt," Nov. 15, 2017. #stopSinclair

Call Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake: Support the resolution of disapproval to save net neutrality.

The FCC voted to kill the open internet, but Congress has the power to overrule it. Fifty senators have already signed onto a resolution of disapproval that would overturn the FCC's repeal of net neutrality. We need just one more, and Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake has not yet signed on to save the internet. Call now. Click below for a sample script and the number to call:

Fifty senators signed on to the resolution of disapproval to overturn the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and save net neutrality.1 We need just one more. If Sens. McCain and Flake sign on, the resolution will pass the Senate and move on to the House. Call Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake: Support the resolution of disapproval to save net neutrality.  When the FCC voted to kill the open internet, they ignored millions of Americans and gave 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.2 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. Republicans in Congress used the process last 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. Trump's FCC chair has shown that he is in the pocket of Big Telecom companies. But unlike the FCC, our senators are elected and they must answer to us. Call Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake: Support the resolution of disapproval to save net neutrality.  Sample Script:  Hello my name is ____________ and I live in Tucson, AZ. I'm calling to ask Sens. McCain and Flake to sign onto the resolution of disapproval that would overturn the FCC's repeal of net neutrality. Will Sens. McCain and Flake sign on and stand up for a free and open internet? Sen. John McCain P. 202-224-2235 (Got a recording. Left a message) F. 202-228-2862 Phoenix Office P. 602-952-2410 F. 855-952-8702 Tucson Office P. 520-670-6334 (Reached a staffer here.) F. 855-952-8702 https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form Sen. Jeff Flake P. 202-224-4521 (Got a recording. Left a message.) F: 202-228-0515 Phoenix Office P: 602-840-1891 F: 602-840-4092 Tucson Office P: 520-575-8633 (Reached a staffer here.) F: 520-797-3232 https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff - Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action References: Brian Fung, "The Senate’s push to overrule the FCC on net neutrality now has 50 votes, Democrats say," The Washington Post, Jan. 15, 2018. Kate Conger and Dell Cameron, "Wait, Can Congress Stop the FCC From Trampling Net Neutrality?" Gizmodo, Dec. 14, 2017. Here's a petition you can sign too.

Tell the FCC inspector general: Investigate FCC Chairman Pai's Sweetheart Deal for Trump TV

The petition to the inspector general of the Federal Communications Commission reads: "Investigate FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's actions to benefit the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Until the investigation is complete, direct staff to cease work on the merger and direct Chairman Pai to recuse himself until the investigation determines whether a permanent recusal is warranted." Add your name:

Almost from the day he took office, Pai has pushed through a series of radical rule changes to help out the Sinclair Broadcast Group, a network so cozy with Trump that it is sometimes called "Trump TV." Among other sweetheart deals, Pai is scrapping FCC rules on media ownership to allow Sinclair – already the biggest television operator in the country – to acquire another network and grow even bigger.It's no secret that Donald Trump hates the media, but he's not just complaining about it on Twitter. Just as Trump's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai has been trying to kill net neutrality, Pai has also been quietly changing FCC policies to create a more pro-Trump media landscape. If they succeed, Trump and Pai could permanently change the U.S. media landscape. But their actions appear to be so clearly designed to benefit one company – and Trump himself – that they could violate the FCC's own mission as an independent agency. Tell the FCC inspector general: Investigate FCC Chairman Pai's actions to benefit the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Click here to sign the petition. Last year, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner announced that the Trump campaign made a deal with Sinclair to get favorable coverage for Trump on the far-right network.1 Paying back the favor, once Trump entered the White House, he met with Sinclair's CEO and talked about "potential FCC rule changes" to help the company.2 But Pai's actions are just as disturbing. The FCC is supposed to be an independent agency that serves the public interest – not media companies and certainly not Donald Trump. Days after Trump won the election, then-FCC Commissioner Pai had an off-the-record meeting with SInclair's CEO. In the two-week period before Trump took office, Pai met with Sinclair two more times, once before meeting with Trump himself and once after.3 Then, two days after taking office, Trump nominated Pai as FCC chairman. Pai got to work right away on a series of policy changes that directly benefit Sinclair. Tell the FCC inspector general: Investigate FCC Chairman Pai's actions to benefit the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Click here to sign the petition. Pai's most radical step has been to eliminate rules that would prevent Sinclair from acquiring the Tribune Media Company. This is a mega-merger that would leave Sinclair with an incredible 223 stations covering 72 percent of U.S. households.4 With the FCC's longstanding media ownership rules out of the way, the commission will decide on the merger in the next few months. Now, however, 15 senators have called for the FCC inspector general to investigate Pai's actions, saying they “suggest a disturbing pattern of a three-way quid pro quo involving Sinclair, the Trump administration and Chairman Ajit Pai."5 The senators have asked the inspector general to tell Pai to recuse himself from all decisions related to Sinclair during the investigation, and they want FCC staff to stop work on the merger until the investigation is complete. If Pai is changing the media landscape to benefit Donald Trump, we need to know – and we need to stop him. Tell the FCC inspector general: Investigate FCC Chairman Pai's actions to benefit the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/investigate-Pai?t=8&akid=26336%2E3130208%2EmAm5ro - Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: Josh Dawsey and Hadas Gold, "Kushner: We struck deal with Sinclair for straighter coverage," POLITICO, Dec. 16, 2016. Claire Atkinson and Josh Kosman, "Sinclair is close to buying all of Tribune’s TV stations," New York Post, March 14, 2017. Sen. Maria Cantwell et al., "Letter to FCC Inspector General David L. Hunt," Nov. 15, 2017. Ibid. Ibid.

Sinclair Broadcast Group wants to turn local news into Trump TV

The ultra-conservative media giant is trying to convince the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow it to merge with Tribune Media, giving it control over television stations that broadcast to 75% of American homes.(1)

Sinclair is already infamous for forcing its local stations to air pro-Trump propaganda segments and demanding that anchors read right-wing statements on the air. They're turning local news into Fox News, one television station at a time.

This is what the FCC and the media look like under Donald Trump -- dismantled regulations, huge mergers, and the decimation of free speech by media giants forcing its positions on the airwaves.

We can't let Sinclair take over America's airwaves and turn our television stations into Trump TV. We're calling on the FCC to reject this awful merger. Will you join us? We'll collect your signatures and comments and submit them directly to the FCC.

Sign the petition demanding the FCC reject the merging of Sinclair Broadcast Group with Tribune Media.

Sinclair has become more widely known recently for hiring Trump campaign spokesperson Boris Epshteyn and airing his taped segments on all of their stations up to nine times a week.(2)

But Sinclair has been turning local news stations into right-wing propaganda machines for more than a decade. Sinclair required all of its anchors to read messages supporting George W. Bush's Iraq War, ran infomercials lying about Barack Obama having connections to terrorism, and showed puff pieces about Trump throughout the 2016 campaign.(3)

America relies on its local news stations to keep them informed about their communities and to provide diverse viewpoints. But if Sinclair is allowed to merge with Tribune, it will become the most powerful media company in America and squeeze the life out of local news. As Representative Frank Pallone Jr. said, "I worry that our democracy is at stake because democracy depends on a diversity of voices and competition of news outlets."(4)

Fortunately, the FCC has not rubber-stamped the Sinclair-Tribune deal yet. Just recently, the FCC stopped its review to give the public more time to comment on the merger and also to ask Sinclair to provide more information on how the merger would not hurt the public good.(5)

This is our chance to let the FCC know that we don't want Trump TV in our living rooms. It’s up to us to make our voice heard and take back our media.

Help prevent local news from becoming Trump TV by demanding the FCC stop the Sinclair-Tribune merger! We'll collect your signatures and comments and submit them directly to the FCC.

- the Courage Campaign team

Footnotes:
1. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/17/sinclair-news-media-fox-trump-white-house-circa-breitbart-news
2. http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2017/07/10/boris-epshteyn-sinclair-broadcasting-240359
3. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/this-sinclair-tribune-merger-is-a-rotten-deal-for-america_us_59b0587ce4b0c50640cd643d
4. Refer to note 1
5. http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-20171005-story.html

Sign the petition if you agree: The Senate needs to stand up for consumers and fire FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

Petition to US Senate:

Since joining the FCC, Ajit Pai has undercut the public interest at every turn. From waging war on the free and open internet and Title II net neutrality, to threatening to cut off phone and internet service to low-income people, it's clear he's more interested in looking out for his former employers at Big Cable than the American People. Pai is failing at his job to protect consumers and should not be re-confirmed. Please vote NO to reconfirming Ajit Pai to the FCC.

It’s time for FCC Chair Ajit Pai to go.

He’s been undermining the open internet from his first day at the Federal Communications Commission, and he’s only gotten worse since Trump made him Chair.

Pai is going all out to repeal net neutrality protections – even after a record 20 million public comments overwhelmingly told him to leave the open internet alone.

But we have good news: The Senate has an opportunity to stop Ajit Pai’s anti-net neutrality, pro-Big Cable agenda in its tracks.

Tell the Senate: Fire Ajit Pai.

The Senate has to vote to reconfirm Pai to the FCC by the end of the year or he’s out.

Here’s what this means for us: We can get every single member of the Senate on the record about net neutrality and a whole lot more.

Let’s be clear: A vote for Pai is a vote to:
End the internet as we know it, and let Pai's former employers at Verizon and the rest of Big Cable be the gatekeepers of what you can and can’t do online.
Let notorious right-wing media empire Sinclair (known for its racist and highly biased “must-run” broadcasts1) get market share reaching over 70% of American households.2
Shut off phone and internet service for the working poor and low-income people.

Not one senator should support that agenda.

Sign the petition if you agree: The Senate needs to stand up for consumers and fire FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

Pai has made it clear he has no real interest in public service to begin with – only furthering the interests of his Big Cable benefactors. Let’s end his career at the FCC.

- Demand Progress

Sources:
1. Politico, “Sinclair increases 'must-run' Boris Epshteyn segments,” July 10, 2017.
2. Politico, “How Trump's FCC aided Sinclair's expansion,” August 6, 2017.

Massive Net Neutrality Day of Action TODAY. Protect free access to all content on the web!

our browsing access is already being prohibited 

Did you get a notice like this from Cox? Our browser access is already being limited. That is taking away our freedom of speech. We won't be able to share as many videos!

Trump's head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), former Verizon lawyer Ajit Pai, is poised to destroy net neutrality! Let's stop him.

Net neutrality means that content on the internet is given the same treatment by those who provide internet services...these internet service providers (ISPs) can't slow down your browsing on certain pages or block websites or charge sites fees to reach an audience. It means that we all have access to the same internet no matter what we pay.

With all of our online activism, we will go over allotted data use. 

Today is a massive Net Neutrality Day of Action -- please help protect net neutrality by adding your name to tell the FCC and Congress that you strongly support net neutrality

When Ajit Pai was put in charge of the FCC, big telecom companies got what they had wanted for years -- someone who would help them end net neutrality, which prevents them from boosting their profits. But if net neutrality is gone, they can line their pockets even more with money made from extra fees.

They may have a lot of money, but our voices matter in this fight. So far we have been able to beat back attempts to gut net neutrality because internet users have banded together and fought to save the free and open internet.

So far millions of people have spoken out against the FCC's plan to kill net neutrality, and on our day of action today we can engage millions more.

Please add your name and demand that the FCC and your elected officials protect net neutrality!

- Katie O'Connell, People for the American Way

Protect a real free and open internet, not corporate greed. Sign the petition now.

Trump’s Dangerous Team is at it again. This time Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Ajit Pai introduced a plan that would undo all of the strong rules implemented in 2015 that protect the open internet and prevent large internet service providers (ISPs) from controlling what we do online. We need to protect net neutrality so that all Internet users have access to the same content, communities, entertainment, commerce, and more online.

Sign the petition to protect net neutrality now!

The first vote on this plan is May 18th, so we don’t have a lot of time to stop this plan that will hurt everyone who uses the Internet. We need to tell our elected officials that we will not stand for a plan that lets corporations control our internet usage for their own gain.

The new Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a former Verizon lawyer named Ajit Pai, is trying to kill net neutrality.  Chairman Pai has announced a plan that would undo the strong, enforceable rules put in place in 2015 that protect the open Internet.

Without net neutrality, Verizon, Comcast and the other monopoly Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be able to start interfering with our ability as Internet users to control where we go and what we do online.

These giant telecoms want to pad their bottom lines through schemes that will allow them — not Internet users — to pick winners and losers online.

The first vote on Chairman Pai’s disastrous plan will be on May 18th, so we need to speak out today.

Sign the petition to send the FCC and our elected officials in D.C. a clear message that we won’t stand by and let them kill net neutrality.

Because of net neutrality, the Internet has become an unparalleled engine for democracy, innovation, education, communication, entertainment and commerce.

But without strong rules to protect an open Internet, ISPs will be free to block content, control the pathways to information and create pay-to-play schemes.

Fortunately, if enough of us speak out, we can win.

In 2015, we won strong open Internet protections under Title II of the Communications Act because of a massive public outcry in support of net neutrality, including 4 million of us who spoke out to support it.

Since then, opponents of net neutrality have been relentless in trying to take away our hard-fought victory — first in the courts, and now through the FCC.

We need to be as relentless in our support of net neutrality as the other side has been in their opposition, and we need to send a strong message to everyone who has power — whether they’re members of the House, the Senate or the FCC — that we will not let them turn back the clock on the open Internet.

Sign the petition today!

- Daily Kos

Call to retain a free and open internet

Last week, Trump’s FCC Chair Ajit Pai unveiled his plan to KILL the strong net neutrality rules upholding a free and open internet.

Your senators can help stop this plan. But they need to hear an uprising of opposition from their constituents.

Call Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake. Tell them to publicly denounce the new FCC’s plan to kill net neutrality.

Here is their contact information:

Sen. McCain - (202) 224-2235

https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form


Sen. Flake - (202) 224-4521

https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff

Here’s what you can say:

Hi, I’m a constituent from [YOUR TOWN]. I couldn’t believe the news that FCC Chair Ajit Pai released a plan to kill net neutrality rules – and hand control of the internet to Comcast and Verizon.

With the Senate voting soon on whether to reconfirm Ajit Pai, please publicly denounce Pai’s plan to kill net neutrality.