Tom Wheeler

Newsletter: Making Protest Personal; Take It To Their Homes

June 18, 2016 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.PopularResistance.org Newsletter BXE, FCC, FERC, Flint, Fracking, Kayactivism, Norman Bey, Occupy, Oil & Gas, Ron Wyden, Tar Sands, Tom Wheeler, Torture, Wars and Militarism, Water

By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers for Popular Resistance. Protests at homes of public officials and corporate CEOs is a common tactic used widely because it can be very effective. The response of Barrasso shows it is working and should continue. As Saul Alinsky, author or Rules for Radicals, pointed out “any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition as being unethical.” Such protests have to be nonviolent and conducted in a way that does not inconvenience neighbors but educates them about why the protest is occurring. These tactics seek to personalize the issue, to make it less abstract than a federal agency. The campaign should keep their focus on the people responsible, not let up, continue to escalate and make the person isolated and unpopular. The goal is to maintain constant, escalating pressure so the official pays a heavy personal price for their actions.

Tell The FCC Why You Support Net Neutrality

February 18, 2015 Josh Tabish, www.openmedia.ca Resist! FCC, Net Neutrality, Reclassification, Tom Wheeler

Massive Jumbotron Outside FCC Will Let You Tell Why Net Neutrality Is Important The clock is ticking down fast to the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) crucial decision about whether to allow Big Telecom to install slow lanes on our Internet. We have just over a week left to make our voices heard before they vote on a plan to stop Internet slow lanes – setting a new global standard for countries around the world. While FCC Chair Tom Wheeler appears to be moving in the right direction, new threats have emerged. Deep-pocketed cable lobbyists and their lackeys in Congress are running a deceptive, last-minute campaign to insert massive loopholes into the new rules. The next few days will be our last chance to make sure key leaders at the FCC hear our call. But to push back, a broad coalition of groups have a bold plan to counter Big Telecom spin and make ourselves heard by decision-makers at the FCC: we’ll park a giant JUMBOTRON right outside their office in Washington, D.C. as part of #InternetCountdown.

Major Historic Victory For Internet Freedom: The Fight Continues

February 5, 2015 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! fast track, FCC, Internet, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Tom Wheeler, TPP

Our ten month campaign to save the Internet (which built on ten years of work) had an against-all-odds victory when the Chairman of the FCC announced that the Internet would be reclassified as a public utility under Title II of the Federal Communications Act. If you remember, this is why we camped outside the FCC last May and continued to protest throughout the year– so that the Internet would be reclassified. This is a crucial step to guarantee net neutrality which means that we all have equal access to content on the Internet and it can’t be turned into a pay-to-play scheme like cable TV. This is a victory of people power over corporate power, indeed over one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, DC the telecom industry! We have more campaigns to win and must be confident that the people have power and can defeat corporate interests.

Unbelievable: Telecoms Claim They’re Worried About Your Bill!

December 13, 2014 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org Organize! Common Carrier, FCC, Net Neutrality, Tom Wheeler

In a claim that must have people laughing out loud, the telecom and broadband providers are fighting net neutrality claiming that they will raise the rates of consumers! It is hard to believe that even telecom lobbyists, well-paid to mislead Congress and regulators, could make this claim without smirking as cable bills have been rising at four times the rate of inflation. Now they claim to be concerned about consumer costs. Why? Because they want to protect their monopolies that allow them to gouge consumers and provide sub-par service. The telecoms remind us of the mafia: “If you reclassify the Internet as a public utility, it’s gonna cost you.” It is time to stand up to these bullies. The Internet community is strong enough to defeat them in any arena. And, the FCC will be able to control their costs if they reclassify because Title II gives the FCC the power to control the fees they charge.

BREAKING: Net Neutrality Activists Blockade FCC Chairman’s House

November 10, 2014 Staff, target="_blank" >www.popularresistance.org Resist! Activism, FCC, Free Speech, Internet, Net Neutrality, Tom Wheeler

Advocates for net neutrality who oppose the tiered Internet proposed by FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler, blockaded his driveway this morning, Monday, November 10, 2014, just as the Chairman was getting into his car. Six people participated in the blockade with a large banner that read “Save the Internet.” They also held signs demanding that Wheeler listen to the people. They chanted “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Tom Wheeler has got to go” and sang “Which side are you on Tom? Are you with the people or with the Telecoms?” The protest, which kicked off at 6:55am, is organized by PopularResistance.org, the same group that Occupied the FCC from May 7 to May 15. They are demanding that Wheeler drop plans to advance so-called “hybrid” rules that fail to protect free speech, and fully reclassify the Internet as a common carrier under Title II.

Net Neutrality Protests Sweep US, Opposing FCC’s Leaked Plan

November 7, 2014 Staff, www.PopularResistance.org Organize! Barack Obama, Net Neutrality, Tom Wheeler

Hundreds of Internet users - holding their lit up cell phones and laptops aloft in protest - joined more than 30 demonstrations across the U.S. on Thursday night. The protests were organized in just a few days after the leaking of an inadequate proposal being floated by Chair of the FCC, Tom Wheeler. People took to the streets in an outpouring of anger over reports that the Federal Communications Committee is planning to push a “hybrid” net neutrality proposal that opens the door for cable company censorship and abuse. Crowds turned out in dozens of other cities as well including Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Anchorage, AK; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY. They promised the protests would escalate unless the FCC recommends full reclassification of the Internet as a common carrier where there can be no discrimination and equal access for all. More than 100 people gathered in front of the White House in Washington, DC with lit-up signs reading “SAVE THE INTERNET,” chanting “Hey hey! Ho ho! Tom Wheeler has got to go.”

Which Side Are You On, Tom Wheeler?

July 3, 2014 Aitza Haddad, www.freepress.net Resist! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Protest, Tom Wheeler

Net Neutrality activists had one simple question for the FCC chairman yesterday: What side are you on, Tom? Net Neutrality supporters Popular Resistance organized political street theater outside the FCC on Tuesday. The goal: Urge Chairman Tom Wheeler to reclassify Internet service providers (ISPs) as common carriers. It's the only real way to protect Net Neutrality and ban a play-for-play Internet. They were joined by Code Pink, Free Press, the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press and other Net Neutrality activists outside the FCC. Net Neutrality activists held signs high: "HONK for Net Neutrality," "One Internet for Everyone," "Reclassify the Internet as a Common Carrier," and "NO to Internet Discrimination." Many FCC staffers looked on as they headed out for lunch. Activists also sung chants, which included a remix of a popular Queen song: Tom, are you a slick man, bought man Lobby for your fat cat friends, slipping tiered net rules End Neutrality No equality Just profits for the telecom industry We will, we will, rock you.

Saving The Internet: What Is Coming Next?

June 2, 2014 Staff, www.PopularResistance,org Organize! FCC, Internet, Internet Freedom, Tom Wheeler

Internet Non-Discrimination Campaign Continues: Which Side Are You On, Tom? The Chair of the FCC, Tom Wheeler, continues to support a tiered Internet based on ability to pay, but because of the pressure from the people, the fundamental issue of reclassifying the Internet as a common carrier was added to the agenda Nearly 50,000 comments have already been sent on the "Open Internet" rule, almost all supporting our position. As we suggested, people are submitting comments to the public and raising their voices louder than Comcast’s lobbyists to save the people’s internet. To see more actions you can take visit Save The Internet. Working within the public comment system is not enough. We're planning more and focusing our attention on Tom Wheeler so the chair of the FCC knows that he has to pick a side -- is he with the people or with the telecom companies. Phase I: Which Side Are You On, Tom? Join us today, if you are in Washington, DC. On Monday, June 2nd from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, we will be starting our “Which Side Are You On, Tom? Campaign” at the FCC.

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