Have you heard of the term Net Neutrality?
It is what we all know and enjoy about the Internet. Everyone in the world who has an Internet connection has access to ALL content. For the last several years, some of the biggest Internet providers have been leading a fight to put an end to our freedom on the Internet and unless we ACT NOW, it is going to happen.
Remember the days when as long as you had a television, you could watch every television station that your television could pick up? Then along came cable. It seemed great at first and then tiered plans suddenly made you feel like you were missing out when you went to spend the night at your friend’s house and realized they had channels that you didn’t! So the cable providers of today want to create the same type of tiered access on the Internet.
The future of the Internet could look like this!
Large corporations could be offered the opportunity to be put in the “fast lane” for delivery of their content to consumers. Netflix, Hulu, and other subscription based companies might see the value in this. You may say, “So What! Let them pay.” However, what that means for you is that they’ll charge you more for your subscription! If you’re a business owner or you run an organization and you won’t or can’t pay for the fast lane, your website will be put in the “slow lane” or potentially blocked altogether to deliver content to the public. That’s right! The proposed FCC regulations would mean that the Internet Service Providers would be allowed to discriminate in deciding what Internet content they allow to be accessed through their service!
Just let that sink in for a moment!
How will this hurt the Black community?
In the last 10 years, we have recognized the Internet as being “great equalizer.” For the purposes of education, access to information, connecting the community, and growing our businesses, the Internet has allowed us the ability to be more connected. Although we know it has been the great equalizer, we haven’t truly even used the power of the Internet to its full potential! How many Black businesses and organizations do you know that still don’t have a decent website or even a website at all?! And so just as we’re learning to walk and take advantage of the power of the Internet, this great freedom will be shredded to pieces without widespread action. Knowledge is key! This affects ALL of us in one way or another. Please stay tuned as we join the fight to Save The Internet!
It’s not too late. We must ACT NOW!
Tell Congress to vote NO on Rep. Bob Latta’s bill H.R. 4752, which would block the FCC from enforcing Net Neutrality.
Tell the FCC to re-categorize Information Service Providers as “common carriers” and maintain Net Neutrality.
Tell the FCC and the Justice Department to block mega-mergers of cable and Internet providers.
Put pressure on President Obama to get involved and urge Congress to vote NO on H.R. 4752.**The original petition addressed to President Obama reached its required threshold of 100 signatures and has been officially responded to. However, if you scroll to the bottom of the response, there is an opportunity to add your comments/concerns.
The Latest
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has released a new proposal outlining Net Neutrality rules, but can we trust that there are no loopholes that will still allow ISP’s to harm consumers? According to an official response from the White House regarding Net Neutrality, “Chairman Wheeler has publicly pledged to use the full authority granted by Congress to maintain a robust, free and open Internet — a principle that this White House vigorously supports.” So the ball is in Congress’ court right now.
So how did Congress respond? On May 28, Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) introduced legislation, H.R. 4752, that will block the FCC from reclassifying broadband Internet providers as “common carriers” (which is what’s needed for the FCC to continue to regulate how providers interact with consumers). Watch out for tricky language! Congressman Latta announced it as “Legislation to Keep Internet Open and Accessible.” However, the full description is “legislation to ensure the Internet remains open and free from government interference by limiting the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to regulate broadband under Title II of the Communications Act.” If you only focus on the words open and free, you may assume that voting yes is in your best interest.
We must urge Congress to vote NO!
SOURCES AND USEFUL LINKS: Save the Internet (Free Press), Voices for Internet Freedom, Democracy Now, NY Times