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Hi,
We're closer than ever to restoring net neutrality and Title II authority – and now big telecom and their allies in Congress are pulling out all the stops to prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from finalizing new rules that will guarantee a free and open internet for all.
Their most recent attack was a cynical, highly partisan hearing led by Republicans trying to smear a restoration of commonsense open internet protections as "President Biden's takeover of broadband."
In fact, Title II and net neutrality are all about preventing big telecom from taking over the internet and keeping it in the hands of the people.
Today is the last day the FCC will accept public comments on its proposal to restore open internet protections, and with Comcast and other telecom giants waging a full-scale assault on net neutrality, we need to turn up the heat in the final stretch.
Net neutrality requires internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to treat all websites, apps, and content the same. That means ISPs can't create fast lanes for their own content, or throttle or block access to their competitors.1
But Republican cronies of big telecom are calling that a "takeover" of the internet.2 In reality, Title II protections will preserve an internet free from big telecom gatekeepers, and it will help expand broadband access, especially for rural communities, communities of color, and others who have historically lacked access.3,4
When the FCC proposed to restore net neutrality earlier this year, Demand Progress Action joined with over 30 partner organizations to relaunch the BattleForTheNet website, so people can tell the FCC and Congress why the policy is vital to them. In less than two months, there have been over 65,000 actions on the site.
That's incredible progress, but now we need to redouble our efforts to counter the attacks and big telecom's lies. And we've only got a few hours left.
With gratitude for all that you do,
Tihi and the team at Demand Progress Action
Sources:
1. Slate, "Goodbye, Ajit Pai," January 20, 2021.
2. House Energy & Commerce Committee, "Communications and Technology Subcommittee Hearing: "Oversight of President Biden's Broadband Takeover," November 30, 2023.
3. NCTA, "Net Fatality,'" accessed December 11, 2023.
4. Slate, "Goodbye, Ajit Pai," January 20, 2021.
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