dslreports logo
 story category
Protesters Gear up Ahead of Net Neutrality Killing Vote at FCC

Ignoring millions of consumers who believe the decision is a bad idea that only benefits the nation's biggest, wealthiest telecom companies, the FCC is poised to vote to kill net neutrality protections sometime in the next few months. In a country where even getting people to understand what net neutrality is remains a steep uphill climb, protestors are gearing up to make some noise as D-Day for net neutrality looms. More than 21 million Americans have filed comments on the FCC's plan, the overwhelming majority of which oppose what Ajit Pai is doing.

Click for full size
Consumer groups are urging concerned citizens to help them protest at the FCC's September 26 meeting in DC, after which these protests are slated to move to Capitol Hill.

“The FCC seems dead set on killing net neutrality, but they have to answer to Congress, and Congress has to answer to us, their constituents,” said Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future, one of the protest’s organisers.

“With this day of advocacy, we’re harnessing the power of the web to make it possible for ordinary internet users to meet directly with their senators and representatives to tell their stories, and make sure that lawmakers hear from the public, not just lobbyists for AT&T and Verizon,” Greer said.

The decision to classify ISPs as common carriers under Title II is, you'll recall, the only way the FCC has the authority to protect consumers from harm. ISPs have not only been lobbying relentlessly to reverse that classification, but to effectively gut oversight of the industry entirely. With neither competition nor regulatory pressure holding these ISPs accountable, the end result would be higher prices, worse service, and slower speeds for millions of American consumers.

In addition to pushing for the repeal of the FCC's rules, large ISPs like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon are also lobbying Congress to pass a new net neutrality law. Why? They know the current Congress is so cash-compromised, large ISP lawyers will be the ones writing it -- ensuring that any new law is notably weaker than the rules currently on the books. There's only one real beneficiary to repealing the FCC's widely popular net neutrality rules -- and it isn't you.

Most recommended from 76 comments



TIGERON
join:2008-03-11
Boston, MA

9 recommendations

TIGERON

Member

Elections have consequences

For the 46% that did not vote : You are getting what you deserve.