Preserve Internet Neutrality

[Guest guest]

Dear Arnold,

Today we sent an alert asking for public comments to the FCC in support of

net neutrality. Hours after we sent the e-mail, the D.C. Court of Appeals

issued a ruling that has made our cause more urgent. I wanted to briefly

explain what happened and why, more than ever, _we still need you to submit

public comments to the FCC by Thursday's deadline if you haven't already._

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5419 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=1)

In 2002, the FCC, working in alliance with the Bush administration and its

corporate backers, went on a deregulation binge. The FCC decided to

classify and treat broadband Internet service providers outside of the legal

framework that traditionally applied to the companies that offer two-way

communications services.

Today, the court held that as long as that Bush-era reclassification

stands, the FCC lacks the authority to impose on broadband providers certain

important regulations, including net neutrality. Because both the D.C. Court

of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court are consistent allies of corporations

over citizens, it is unlikely that this will be overturned.

Despite the ruling, the FCC can still impose net neutrality rules. But

first the FCC must reclassify broadband companies as telecommunications

carriers. The FCC has the ability to do this, but it needs to see strong public

support to justify revisiting the Bush-era decision. It is now even more

urgent that we _speak out in support of net neutrality before Thursday's

deadline if you haven't already done so._

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5419 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=2)

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager

CREDO Action

P.S. For more information, check out articles in the _Los Angeles Times_

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5420 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=3) and

_Washington Post_

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5421 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=4) and a

Huffington Post blog from _Free Press_

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5423 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=5) .

__

 

 

 

 

_Thursday deadline: Protect net neutrality._

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=6)

_Overcome Glenn Beck's lies._

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=7)

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=8)

 

Submit your comment in support of strong net neutrality rules to the FCC.

 

SIGNATURE DEADLINE: Thursday, 10 a.m. PT

 

 

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=9)

Dear Arnold,

One of Glenn Beck's latest conspiracies involves a " gang of communists "

who want to turn the Internet into a " Marxist utopia. " That dangerous gang of

communists he's warning Fox News viewers against? They're net neutrality

supporters.

Glenn Beck has it all wrong: Net neutrality protects — not threatens —

free speech online. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet users, not

Internet service providers, should be in control. It ensures that Internet

service providers can't speed up, slow down, or block Web content based on

its source, ownership, or destination.

The FCC is accepting public comments until Thursday on a proposed

regulation that would protect net neutrality. Will you say that you won't be

fooled

by scare tactics and that you support an open Internet?

_We've made it easy to submit a public comment in support of net

neutrality. Just click here for a sample comment and talking points._

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=10)

When the FCC initially took comments in January, pro-net neutrality

submissions vastly outweighed comments from opponents of Internet freedom. As a

result, big telecom companies are running scared. They're worried that the

FCC might agree with us and prohibit them from inspecting and filtering the

Internet content you access, blocking Web sites and applications they don't

like, and overcharging you for using the Web. Out of the 120,000 comments

submitted, 98,000 of them — a whopping 74 percent — were from CREDO Action

members like you.

The FCC has opened a second round in the comment period. So we need to

repeat that performance and beat back the media monopolists once again.

_You can help us dominate the second round, too. Submit your comment

today!_ (http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=11)

The big telecom companies have deployed hundreds of lobbyists and pushed

outrageous lies. Their goal? Overcome our voices by duping the public into

believing their net neutrality myths.

We have only two days to debunk these lies and protect the free-flowing

Web, as the FCC is only accepting the second round of comments until April 8.

We've made it easy for you to submit your comment on our site — but we'll

need it by 10 a.m. Pacific time on April 8 in order to get it into the

docket by the deadline.

Without strong net neutrality rules, we might have to rely upon the good

will of large telecoms to protect our access to the diversity of political

perspectives. We might have to trust companies like Comcast, which actively

and secretly interfered with users' ability to access popular video, photo

and music sharing applications; AT & T, which censored anti-Bush comments

made by Pearl Jam's lead singer during a concert; and Verizon Wireless, which

interfered with NARAL Pro-Choice America's ability to send text messages to

its members.

Without net neutrality, the Internet would cease to be a public platform

for free speech, political organizing, and equal opportunity.

_Speak out against the corporate lies. Submit your public comment today.

_ (http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5418 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=12)

Thanks for speaking out for a free and open Internet.

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager

_CREDO Action from Working Assets _

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=11 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=13)

 

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=3854 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=14) Did you

know CREDO has a Facebook page?

_Click here to check it out!_

(http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=3854 & id=8550-80770-7SUw0_x & t=15)

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