John,
When the FCC repealed net neutrality they gave up their ability to protect us from the abuses of the Internet Service Providers.
This means they couldn’t stop Verizon from throttling Internet service for firefighters in California while they were fighting fires, which put thousands of people in danger.1
And now, as we’re facing a major public health crisis, the FCC can only beg the ISPs to voluntarily pledge to keep people connected. If net neutrality hadn’t been repealed, this wouldn’t be an issue we’re facing in the midst of a crisis.
Right now, the FCC is holding a court-mandated public comment period on how repealing net neutrality impacts public safety. Tell the FCC: The only way to keep people safe is to reinstate net neutrality!
TAKE ACTION
Without net neutrality we’re at the mercy of ISPs to decide how to manage Internet access. They can decide who gets connected, they can throttle service, they can slow speeds. And they get to make these decisions based on what makes them the most money, not based on what’s best for people.
Net neutrality is the tool we need to protect public safety and ensure that everyone can connect online, now and in the future.
We’re seeing in real-time exactly how repealing net neutrality harms public safety—as millions of people have to stay at home without the ability to get online. People can’t access lifesaving information, attend school, schedule tele-health appointments, or connect with their loved ones.
We need to submit thousands of public comments calling out the FCC and demanding that net neutrality be reinstated. It’s literally a matter of life and death.
Net neutrality is the tool we need to protect public safety and ensure that everyone can connect online, now and in the future. Take a minute and submit your public comment to the FCC.
Together for the Internet,
Caitlin at Fight for the Future
Footnotes:
1. NPR: https://www.npr.org/2018/08/22/640815074/verizon-throttled-firefighters-data-as-mendocino-wildfire-raged-fire-chief-says
Fight for the Future works to protect your rights in the digital age.
