Internet Freedom

Google, Facebook And Amazon Write FCC Demanding True Net Neutrality

May 9, 2014 Staff, www.theguardian.com Resist! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

More than 100 technology companies including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon have written to US regulators to warn that proposed net neutrality rules pose a "grave threat to the internet". The intervention comes against a backdrop of protest at Federal Communications Commission plans that opponents say will create a two-tier internet where big corporations are able to transmit their content to recipients at much higher speed, disadvantaging smaller competitors and other users. The internet companies' letter to the FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, and the agency's four commissioners comes amid calls for a delay in a vote on the plan that is scheduled for 15 May. The letter says FCC rules should not permit "individualised bargaining and discrimination," the companies said. "[The FCC must] take the necessary steps to ensure that the internet remains an open platform for speech and commerce," the letter says. One of the FCC commissioners, Jessica Rosenworcel, has called for a delay of "at least a month" on Wheeler's plan. "Rushing headlong into a rulemaking next week fails to respect the public response to his (Wheeler's) proposal," she said.

Public Outcry On Net Neutrality Rules Puts Pressure On FCC

May 9, 2014 Anne Meador and John Zangas, www.dcmediagroup.us Resist! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Occupy, Protest

Commissioners on an FCC panel which could determine the future of the Internet are feeling the heat this week as protest intensifies against a new set of Open Internet rules proposed by Chair Tom Wheeler. Advocates for Net Neutrality claim the rules would result in just the opposite of a free and open Internet, and their outrage has sparked a massive reaction. Apparently the din has reached the ears of commissioners, and they’re having an effect. FCC Commissioner Jennifer Rosenworcel is urging Wheeler to delay consideration of new rules for at least a month. “I believe that rushing headlong into a rulemaking next week fails to respect the public response to his proposal,” she said. On Thursday another commissioner came out against the plan. “I have grave concerns about the Chairman’s proposal on Internet regulation and do not believe that it should be considered at the Commission’s May meeting,” said Ajit Pai in a statement. A third commissioner has stated his commitment “to preserve an ever-free and open Internet.” “Over 100,000 Americans have spoken,” wrote Mygnon Clyburn on the FCC website, referring to tens of thousands of emails and hundreds of phone calls received by the FCC. “I am listening to your voices.”

Democratic FCC Commissioners Ask Wheeler To Slow Down Net Neutrality Proposal

May 8, 2014 Katy Bachman, www.adweek.com Educate! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler may have just hit a snag in rushing his net neutrality proposal into the procedure pipeline at the May 15 meeting. On Wednesday, both Democratic commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn pushed back on Wheeler's net neutrality proposal. They represent critical votes that Wheeler needs in order to move the proposal forward. Both are being bombarded by consumers that are worried Wheeler's proposal doesn't go far enough in preserving an open Internet. In a blog post, Clyburn noted that "over 100,000 Americans have spoken" via email, calls and letters. Rosenworcel, citing the outcry, said she thought the commission should delay consideration of the rules by at least a month. "I have real concerns about the process," Rosenworcel said in a speech before the Chief Officers of State Libraries in Washington, D.C. "His [Wheeler's] proposal has unleashed a torrent of public response. Tens of thousands of e-mails, hundreds of calls, commentary all across the Internet. We need to respect that input, and we need time for that input. So while I recognize the urgency to move ahead and develop rules with dispatch, I think the greater urgency comes in giving the American public opportunity to speak right now, before we head down this road."

Technology Open Internet Backers Stage ‘Occupy FCC’

May 8, 2014 Wilson Dizard, www.america.aljazeera.com Resist! Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Occupy

Internet libertarians calling for the equal treatment of all Internet data have camped out in front of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, D.C., saying they won’t quit their Occupy-style protest until the regulator stands up for Net neutrality. About 15 people stood outside the FCC’s headquarters on Wednesday afternoon in a protest organized by the two groups, Fight for the Future and Popular Resistance. Five of the demonstrators said they were determined to set up camp overnight and stick around until May 15, when the commission is set to unveil proposed new Net neutrality rules — or perhaps longer, if the new rules don’t meet their expectations. Margaret Flowers of Popular Resistance says members of the protest – officially called “Camp Out to Save Net Neutrality” or “People’s Firewall FCC Camp” and unofficially as “Occupy FCC” – are in it for the long haul, bringing sleeping bags, signs and chants, such as “Hey, hey FCC, the Internet must be free” and “FCC drop the barrier, make the Internet a common carrier.”

Protesters Start Camp Outside FCC To Protect Net Neutrality

May 7, 2014 Dominic Rushe, www.theguardian.com Resist! FCC, Internet, Internet Freedom

Protesters set up camp outside the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) on Wednesday to fight plans they say will create a two-tier internet and hand control of the web to major corporations. The rally – reminiscent of the Occupy-style rallies that started in 2011 – started outside the FCC’s Washington headquarters at noon with protesters from Fight For the Future, Popular Resistance and others unfurling banners reading “Save the Internet”. Protesters then announced they intend to camp out outside the FCC until 15 May when the regulator is expected to announce new rules for the internet that will formalise plans for higher speed internet for those able to pay for it. Public interest groups have become increasingly concerned that the new rules will end “net neutrality” – the concept that all internet traffic should be treated equally on the web. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler has defended his plans for what he calls the “open internet”.

A 10-Point Plan To Keep The NSA Out Of Our Data

May 7, 2014 Kim Zetter, www.wired.com Create! Internet Freedom

In this age of dragnet surveillance and rampant privacy invasions, when lawmakers seem disinclined to make the right decisions to protect our data and secure the integrity of the internet, the responsibility falls on the technology community to step in and do the right thing to secure our future. Just ask Edward Snowden. The NSA whistleblower appeared at TED today via a video chatbot and issued a call to arms when he said, “To people who have seen and enjoyed the free and open internet, it’s up to us to preserve that liberty for the next generation to enjoy.” That echoed comments Snowden made over a video stream during SXSW in Austin, Texas, when he said, “[T]he people who are in the room at Austin right now, they’re the folks who can really fix things, who can enforce our rights for technical standards even when Congress hasn’t yet gotten to the point of creating legislation that protect our rights in the same manner. There’s a policy response that needs to occur, but there’s also a technical response that needs to occur. And it’s the makers, the thinkers, the developing community that can really craft those solutions to make sure we’re safe.”

Reset The Net: ‘Don’t Ask for Online Privacy… Take It Back.’

May 7, 2014 Jon Queally, www.commondreams.org Create! Internet Freedom

Online coalition vows to fight mass online surveillance by empowering web users. Led by online freedom organizations, internet firms, and other advocacy groups, a broadbased coalition is coming together with a singular call to "Reset the Net" as a way to beat back government and corporate surveillance on the web. With a national online day of action scheduled for June 5, supporters of the campaign—including Common Dreams (full disclosure), Free Press, Fight for the Future, Credo Action, RootsAction.org. Demand Progress, Greenpeace, Reddit, CodePink, and dozens of others—say they will use the anniversary of the first reporting about NSA spying based on documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden as an opportunity to reclaim the internet from the spying eyes of the National Security Agency and gross abuse of privacy protections. “A year after Snowden’s shocking revelations, the NSA is still spying on innocent Americans without a warrant,” said CREDO Mobile's president and co-founder Michael Kieschnick in a statement. “CREDO will continue to demand Congress and the president take action to stop unconstitutional mass warrantless surveillance, and until we win real reform, we will encourage users to adopt encryption tools to protect their personal communications from government abuse of the 1st and 4th amendment.”

FCC Response To Our Emails: “Open” Internet Is Not An “Equal” Internet

May 7, 2014 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Internet, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

The FCC began sending out responses to the thousands of people who sent an email to Chairman Tom Wheeler from Popular Resistance. Our emails focused on protecting net neutrality so there would not be discrimination on the Internet ...Wheeler's response missed the point and highlighted the conflict in our views. An Open Internet is not the same as an equal internet with net neutrality. I can get on an open highway and be relegated to the slow lanes, while wealthier people get on the same highway but are allowed to go to the fast lanes. That is an "Open Internet" but it is not the kind of information superhighway we want the Internet to become. Today, we are going to the FCC at 445 12th St., NW and begin ongoing protests at noon and 5 PM each day until May 15th when the FCC holds its Open Internet Meeting . We hope you will join us so we can save the Internet from becoming a class-based, tiered service. Net neutrality is the Free Speech issue of the 21st Century.

Five US Internet Providers Are Slowing Down Access Until They Get More Cash

May 6, 2014 Timothy B. Lee, www.vox.com Educate! Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

So why hasn't interconnection been a bigger part of the network neutrality debate? Until recently, it was unheard of for a residential broadband provider like Comcast to demand payment to deliver traffic to its own customers. Traditionally, residential broadband companies would accept traffic from the largest global "backbone" networks such as Level 3 for free. So anyone could reach Comcast customers by routing their traffic through a third network. That limited Comcast's leverage. But recently, the negotiating position of backbone providers has weakened while the position of the largest residential ISPs — especially Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T — has gotten stronger. As a consequence, the network neutrality debate will be increasingly linked to the debate over interconnection. Refusing to upgrade a slow link to a company is functionally equivalent to configuring an Internet router to put the company's packets in a virtual slow lane. Regulations that try to protect net neutrality without regulating the terms of interconnection are going to be increasingly ineffective.

A #WaveOfAction Is Heading For The FCC All Over The Country

May 5, 2014 Staff, www.feature.waveofaction.org Resist! Internet, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

On May 15th, FCC Commissioners will meet to propose these new rules. To save the Internet, a diverse coalition of groups are launching a Wave of Action for media freedom and building a People’s Firewall to block them. Beginning Wednesday, May 7th, actions will be held every weekday at noon and 5pm outside FCC buildings. The main FCC office is located at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please tell everyone you know in the Washington, DC area about these actions. We need people to turn out on May 7th to make a big first splash. An escalating Wave of Action is planned through May 15th. If you can’t make it to DC, please take action locally at one of their 27 offices.

Special Alert: New Actions Planned To Save The Internet

May 4, 2014 Staff, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Internet, Internet Freedom

Special Alert: Take Action To Save The Internet Thank you for taking action to stop the end of net neutrality. Now we need to escalate beyond click-activism and take it to the FCC. Beginning Wednesday, May 7th actions will be held every day at noon and 5 pm. To Save The Internet, we are building a People's Firewall against the FCC’s proposed rule that will create a ‘pay to play’ Internet by ending net neutrality. The FCC is located at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please let everyone you know in Washington, DC about these actions. We need people to turn out and participate. Escalation of action is planned through May 15th when the FCC Commissioners meet to propose new rules for the Internet.

Save the Internet!

May 4, 2014 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Internet, Internet Freedom

To ensure the Internet we want, we must take action today; and people need to plan to come to Washington, DC beginning next Wednesday to join in a series of escalating protests that will undermine the legitimacy of the FCC leadership and force them to pay attention to the public interest rather than the interests of mega-corporations. Already more than a million people have written the FCC in favor of net neutrality and the Commissioners are receiving more than 100 calls per day from citizens. They know the public wants a free, open and equal Internet. Now we have to show them we will revolt if it is taken away from us. The proposal by Obama appointee, Tom Wheeler , a long-time industry lobbyist and Internet profiteer, will put in place a pay-to-play Internet where the wealthiest will have superior service to the rest of us, where big corporations will have faster websites than independent sites and where free speech is stifled by money. The Internet has become the great democratizer of media where independent and social media have flourished and allowed people to create an alternative to the concentrated corporate media. We will not let Wheeler undermine media democratization and turn most of us into second-class Internet citizens.

Tom Wheeler And The Defining Question Of Network Neutrality

May 2, 2014 Harold Feld, www.wetmachine.com Resist! Democracy, Internet, Internet Freedom

Those fighting for net neutrality may remember a similar dark moment back in 2006, when the House Commerce Committee passed out of committee a bill that would have killed net neutrality. As I wrote then, the initial spanking pro-net neutrality forces received back then helped frame the question and the fight for all to see, paving the way for our future victory. Let me conclude here with what I wrote then, and have written numerous times since: “There’s a lesson here. YOU CAN’T OUTSOURCE CITIZENSHIP. You can’t let 'the tech companies' or even 'the consumer advocates' or anyone speak for you. Citizenship carries responsibilities that go beyond the ritual of voting every two years. But when citizens wake up and speak up, and speak to each other, they find — to their surprise — they are strong. They find they have power. And they find that being a citizen may take hard work, but it is so, so, SO much better and more satisfying than being a couch potato. As the great Jewish sage Hillel said: ‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, who am I? If not me then who? If not now, when?’

Politicians Slam FCC Plan To Crush Net Neutrality

May 2, 2014 Amy Kroin, www.freepress.net Resist! Internet, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

When FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s plan to kill Net Neutrality hit the press last week, it landed with a thud. Despite the chairman’s attempts to spin the news, it became clear that the proposal would allow Internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon to discriminate online and undermine the open nature of the Internet. Many politicians took to Facebook and Twitter to blast the plan as did two of Wheeler's FCC colleagues tweeted in support of the open Internet. This is a great start, but we need to make sure Clyburn and Rosenworcel understand that supporting the open Internet means they can’t support Chairman Wheeler’s proposal. And this is where Congress comes in. If we can get more members of Congress to make some noise, we stand a better shot at defeating Wheeler’s plan. So if your senators and representative have kept mum about Wheeler’s disastrous proposal, call their offices and tell them to stand up for Net Neutrality. We need as many voices as possible in the fight to save the Internet.

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