John,
Wow. Biden just named Comcast executive David Cohen as a U.S. Ambassador. [1] But his administration still hasn’t done anything to replace Ajit Pai as the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) so that we can restore net neutrality.
If Biden doesn’t act soon, we’re going to run out of time for the Senate to confirm an FCC nominee. And the telecom lobby could be pushing him to run out the clock.
Today, we’re launching a major pressure campaign to generate press attention, sound the alarm, and drive calls to senior White House staff demanding they fulfill their promise to restore net neutrality––and put someone in charge of the FCC who has no ties to the telecom industry. Will you chip in?
Donate $5 for net neutrality
Donate $15 for net neutrality
Donate $25 for net neutrality
Donate $100 for net neutrality
Donate $500 for net neutrality
Donate another amount!
It doesn’t matter what party you vote for or what you think of President Biden. We can all agree that we don’t want companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T screwing us over more than they already do.
And the reality is that Big Telecom has poured millions and millions of dollars into campaign contributions (read: bribes) to both Democrats and Republicans. In fact, Biden’s first fundraiser as a 2020 primary candidate was in the home of––guess who––Comcast executive and now U.S Ambassador to Canada … David Cohen. [2]
Instead of rewarding Big Telecom executives with ambassadorships, the Biden admin should be working quickly to restore net neutrality and undo the damage that Ajit Pai did at the FCC.
Chip in to help us pressure the White House to nominate a net neutrality champion to the FCC before the clock runs out!
Sometimes nominations take time, and it made sense for a little while to give the administration the benefit of the doubt given other priorities with the pandemic and everything going on. But at this point there’s just no excuse.
The telecom industry is powerful enough that I am genuinely starting to worry that there is a plan afoot where Biden says the right things on this issue (ie the executive order released earlier this month) but then lets the clock run out on Senate confirmation of an FCC nominee.
If that’s the case, then only a big burst of media attention and grassroots pressure will get the administration to stop dragging its feet. Will you chip in to help us organize it?
Thanks so much to all of you who have been in this fight for years. Victory is within reach.
For the Internet,
-Evan at Fight for the Future
[1] https://www.vice.com/en/article/4avbmn/biden-tags-comcast-lobbyist-to-be-canadian-ambassador
[2] https://readsludge.com/2019/04/23/net-neutrality-skeptic-joe-biden-is-attending-a-fundraiser-held-by-comcasts-top-lobbyist/
Fight for the Future works to protect your rights in the digital age.
