The good news is that we are winning on reclassifying the Internet as a common carrier under Title II of the federal Telecommunications Act.
The bad news is that the telecommunications lobbyists are doing everything they can to stop us. Time to fight back.
Following the December 11 public meeting of the FCC where net neutrality activists disrupted and held a banner behind the commissioners, Chairman Tom Wheeler made a statement to the press that was supportive of Title II. This is remarkable progress considering that reclassification wasn’t meant to be considered earlier in the year.
Now, Title II seems inevitable and you can bet that the telecoms who are fighting to protect their monopoly of the Internet and their future profits are going to do everything they can to undermine the gains we’ve made. They already are by spreading lies through front groups, buying off civil rights groups and pressuring members of Congress.
There are more Internet defenders than there are lobbyists. We’ve shown our power before and won. Time to do it again!
Take the pledge below so you will be kept up to date on actions:
Here are 3 things you can do:
1. Contact members of Congress: Use the tool created by our partners at Fight for the Future to contact members of Congress and stop them from interfering with reclassification. Members are home for winter break, so you might even consider visiting them. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
2. Write a letter to the editor: Use this tool from our friends at Open Media to write a letter to the editor. Industry lobbyists are spreading lies to scare the public. Don’t let them get away with it! CLICK HERE TO WRITE A LETTER.
3. Protest the telecoms: Start planning now for actions targeting the big telecoms like Verizon, Comcast and AT&T and their lobbying association, the NCTA, during the week of January 12th. January 14th is the first anniversary of the Verizon court case that ended net neutrality. Send the details of your action to info@popularresistance and we’ll post it on the calendar.
For more information on the telecom industry’s lies, read Kevin Zeese’ article: Unbelievable: Telecoms Claim They’re Worried About Your Bill!