Protests mount online and offline over impending FCC Net Neutrality vote
The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on a possible repeal of net neutrality rules later today, but as the decision-making time draws closer, Internet users continue to fight the proposals of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, taking to Twitter and protesting outside government buildings to pass the message and attempt to influence the result.
The vote, which seeks to reverse Obama-era rules that forces Internet providers to handle all data equally, is set to take place on Thursday at 10:30am ET (7:30 am PT). It is believed that the Republican-dominated FCC will vote in favor of the rollback, with Chairman Pai and Commissioners Michael O'Rielly and Brendan Carr backing Pai's proposal.
In the final minutes before the vote, Internet denizens are attempting to make themselves heard by congregating outside government buildings. The protests have also taken place outside the FCC itself, with citizens bearing signs urging the FCC to reconsider, among other attempts to get the message out.
Protestors have also congregated outside major businesses that would be affected by the decision, including stores for national carrier Verizon.
Online, concerned parties are spreading around messages in images warning of the vote and its potential consequences if it passes. Some users on Twitter are also circulating the contact details for the five-member FCC board, asking others to make contact by tweets, e-mails, and by phone calls.
The online protests are not limited to private individuals, with prominent figures also passing comment. Governor Tom Wolf (Dem, PA) tweeted a link for constituents to look up their members of Congress and to "tell them to oppose the FCC decision to the end."
Announced on November 21, Pai's proposal eliminates the rules put in place by the FCC in 2015 that enables net neutrality. The proposal removes the classification of Internet service providers as a common carrier, stripping the legal authority of the FCC to regulate the behavior of providers, and opening up the possibility of so-called Internet "fast lanes."
The previous FCC board "imposed heavy-handed, utility-style regulations upon the Internet," said Pai at the time of the proposal, claiming it "depressed investment in building and expanding broadband networks and deterred innovation." The proposal would keep the federal government from "micromanaging the Internet," claimed the chairman, with the rules instead requiring transparency from providers about their practices.
The FCC will also neuter its supervisory powers under the proposal, passing to the Federal Trade Commission the task of suing companies that break promises made in statements to the public.
Apple has previously written to the FCC in support of Net Neutrality, declaring "Apple remains open to alternative sources of legal authority, but only if they provide for strong, enforceable, and legally sustainable protections, like those in place today. Simply put, the internet is too important to consumers and too essential to innovation to be left unprotected and uncertain."
The vote will be available to watch in a live stream from the FCC website.
The vote, which seeks to reverse Obama-era rules that forces Internet providers to handle all data equally, is set to take place on Thursday at 10:30am ET (7:30 am PT). It is believed that the Republican-dominated FCC will vote in favor of the rollback, with Chairman Pai and Commissioners Michael O'Rielly and Brendan Carr backing Pai's proposal.
In the final minutes before the vote, Internet denizens are attempting to make themselves heard by congregating outside government buildings. The protests have also taken place outside the FCC itself, with citizens bearing signs urging the FCC to reconsider, among other attempts to get the message out.
Protestors have also congregated outside major businesses that would be affected by the decision, including stores for national carrier Verizon.
-- Twitter Government (@TwitterGov)
Online, concerned parties are spreading around messages in images warning of the vote and its potential consequences if it passes. Some users on Twitter are also circulating the contact details for the five-member FCC board, asking others to make contact by tweets, e-mails, and by phone calls.
The online protests are not limited to private individuals, with prominent figures also passing comment. Governor Tom Wolf (Dem, PA) tweeted a link for constituents to look up their members of Congress and to "tell them to oppose the FCC decision to the end."
There's still time to fight for the free and open internet. Look up your Congress members here and tell them to oppose the FCC decision to end #NetNeutrality: https://t.co/OZOHfKsQQz pic.twitter.com/YXiOnmVBuA
-- Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf)
Announced on November 21, Pai's proposal eliminates the rules put in place by the FCC in 2015 that enables net neutrality. The proposal removes the classification of Internet service providers as a common carrier, stripping the legal authority of the FCC to regulate the behavior of providers, and opening up the possibility of so-called Internet "fast lanes."
The previous FCC board "imposed heavy-handed, utility-style regulations upon the Internet," said Pai at the time of the proposal, claiming it "depressed investment in building and expanding broadband networks and deterred innovation." The proposal would keep the federal government from "micromanaging the Internet," claimed the chairman, with the rules instead requiring transparency from providers about their practices.
The FCC will also neuter its supervisory powers under the proposal, passing to the Federal Trade Commission the task of suing companies that break promises made in statements to the public.
Outside my government office #RIPInternet #NetNeutrality pic.twitter.com/Xgwa3dKH3h
-- geophf (@geophf)
Apple has previously written to the FCC in support of Net Neutrality, declaring "Apple remains open to alternative sources of legal authority, but only if they provide for strong, enforceable, and legally sustainable protections, like those in place today. Simply put, the internet is too important to consumers and too essential to innovation to be left unprotected and uncertain."
The vote will be available to watch in a live stream from the FCC website.
Comments
You are making an argument I agree with. However, there are other factors. Net Neutrality is not all its cracked up to be. It's not clear to me that it actually benefits consumers. It's really about government control vs. private sector control. Given the choice, I usually come down for the latter.
Competition is the answer to everything in life even in a consumer capitalist nation like the USA. I have no idea what "Crony capitalism" could you explain that? If anything it was a liberal social along with a sensible conservative legislative government which created net neutrality so that everyone would get equal access to one of the most important services in the 21st century. You don't have to be a liberal progressive to believe in equality it was one of the original (although still not realized) ideas of our founding fathers.
You honestly believe that your internet and cost has gotten better because of "net neutrality?" That's extremely misinformed. Neutrality has nothing to do with the number of ISP's in your area. Or what they charge. It has to do with whether or not Comcast can reach a deal with, say, Netflix to deliver their content faster for a fee. It has to do with whether Verizon can waive data caps for video. True, it could affect small companies, but it's not like they would get throttled. We're talking about Netflix getting delivered at 200mbs vs. Joe Bloe's video service getting delivered at 100mbs.
And, like those things, it's health and well being is essential to the future of this nation. With a solid infrastructure we can thrive. Without it we will whither...
The MAGA people had a choice on whether to make America great -- or make Comcast and Verizon rich. The former Verizon exec they put in charge of regulating Verizon chose the latter. Why is that a surprise?
This will likely be followed by their "infrastructure" plan to sell our roads and bridges to the highest bidder -- or the lowest if he's a Republican.
Some confuse making the rich richer with keeping America great.
By the way, cellular services have NEVER had “net neutrality” and look at the progress we’ve had over the years in terms of service and speed! Please you idiots, actually inform yourselves before you start voting for legislation. It seems all people do is hear the word NEUTRALITY and they think it’s a good thing when they know nothing about it.
https://youtu.be/G35g5HQVjpU
I am all for small government and lean toward conservative ideas, but I’m extremely disappointed by the naievety of the ‘right’ in commercialising the internet and those who are deliberately misleading people in order to accomplish it. The internet has come a long way in its technical foundation, and it is only a matter of time before people with money making interests and no respect for anything but their wallet will take advantage of it. It’s not a theoretical possibility that ‘the market’ will fix, its guaranteed.
it’s kinda sad to see that the tech industry has such a partisan element to it.
Reason.com has done some of the best reporting of all on this. It shows off their libertarian bent. There’s a nice 30 minute video interview they did with Ajit. http://reason.com/blog/2017/01/31/donald-trump-may-try-to-stifle-freedom-o
given the 2016 campaign of economic illiteracy of Sanders and Trump, it’s nice to see Ajit Pai bringing us back to the origiinal innovation of Clinton with regards to the internet.
And this article follows the Russians directing internet traffic into their country. The internet is a utility and needs the regulation and protection of the government.
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