John,

Everyone needs to be able to get online right now. Period. Full stop.

But millions of people can’t.^1,2 This is unacceptable. Tell Congress to do everything they can to get everyone affordable Internet access.

Imagine being forced to stay at home right now without the Internet: you couldn’t work from home; if you have kids, they wouldn’t be able to continue taking classes and would fall behind; you couldn’t connect with family and friends; and you wouldn’t be able to access critical information about COVID-19 and how to stay safe.

We’re literally relying on the Internet for survival.

This is an urgent problem for many people for whom high speed Internet isn’t affordable or available. Some people can’t afford the exorbitant bills (a number that is only going to increase when more and more people lose their jobs as this crisis continues). Others live in areas without access to the Internet, or only have access to slower speeds.³

Right now, Congress is working on legislation to provide immediate relief to people across the U.S. We have to make it clear: Internet access is essential, and Congress must provide funding so that everyone can get online.

While some in Congress are already on our side and support funding Internet access for everyone, the same politicians who killed net neutrality are trying to make this a windfall for Comcast and Verizon—proposing plans to relax regulations in the hopes that ISPs will take it upon themselves to provide affordable access to all. But we know that won’t happen.⁴

This is why your action right now is critical: you can show your members of Congress that Internet access is a priority by sending them a message right now.

Together for the net,

Caitlin at Fight for the Future

Footnotes:

1. Vice: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jgeg48/us-broadband-gaps-are-twice-as-bad-as-the-government-claims

2. New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/opinion/internet-broadband-coronavirus.html

3. Vox: https://www.vox.com/first-person/2020/4/9/21214105/coronavirus-internet-rural-america

4. Politico: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2020/04/02/whats-at-stake-for-digital-connectivity-in-capitol-hills-next-coronavirus-fight-786603

Fight for the Future works to protect your rights in the digital age.