Net neutrality

“The idea, principle, or requirement that internet service providers should or must treat all internet data as the same regardless of its kind, source, or destination”
SOURCE: Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Why is net neutrality important?

“The cost to access content may go up on services like YouTube, Netflix and Amazon if service providers choose to charge for that traffic. Also, startups who cannot pay the new tolls may find access to their websites slowed down. Content could be censored on certain networks. And competing streaming services could be made slower.”
Prabhudev Konana, professor, Red McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin

What is public opinion on net neutrality?

“Public opinion was overwhelmingly pro net neutrality. The main narratives expressed on Twitter and FCC comments favored egalitarianism and fairness: Don’t create an Internet of haves and have-nots; treat the Internet like a utility, available for all. Net neutrality was also seen as essential for start-ups to succeed against established companies.”
SOURCE: Decoding the Net Neutrality Debate, a report from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Dec. 11, 2014

What is the expert opinion on net neutrality?

“The U.S. has always had a free and open internet precisely because of net neutrality protections.”

Barbara van Schewick, director, Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society, in Fortune, Nov. 22, 2017

“Would you want five companies owning every road in America and deciding who gets to travel where, at what price and speed?”

Susan Crawford, professor, Harvard Law School, in The New York Times, April 17, 2017

“The FCC simply would require internet service providers to be transparent so that consumers can buy the plan that’s best for them.”

Ajit Pai, chairman,
Federal Communications Commission

Make your voice heard

The five members of the Federal Communications Commission will vote on net neutrality on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the FCC listens to elected government officials. To make your voice heard on the issue of net neutrality, you can rely on these methods to communicate with FCC and elected officials.

Sen. Thom Tillis
Republican, North Carolina
Phone: 202-224-6342
Email: tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Sen. Richard Burr
Republican, North Carolina
Phone: 202-224-3154
Email: burr.senate.gov/contact/email

Rep. Alma Adams
Democrat, North Carolina 12th District
Phone: 202-225-1510
Email: adamsforms.house.gov/contact/

Rep. Robert Pittenger
Republican, North Carolina 9th District
Phone: 202-225-1976
Email: pittenger.house.gov/contact/email-me

Ajit Pai
FCC Commissioner
Email: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov

Michael O’Rielly
FCC Commissioner
Email: Mike.ORielly@fcc.gov

Brendan Carr
FCC Commissioner
Email: Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov

Mignon Clyburn
FCC Commissioner
Email: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov

Jessica Rosenworcel
FCC Commissioner
Email: Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov

FCC Phone Numbers:
Toll-Free Voice: 1-888-CALL FCC (225-5322)
More phone numbers found at www.fcc.gov/about/contact

Submit a filing on the FCC’s website.
Click on either the “+ New Filing / + Express” links to submit a filing expressing your opinion on Net Neutrality.
LINK: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/proceedings?q=name:((17-108))

ResistBot
A completely free service to use online or through text. This automated bot will tells you who your US Representative is and allows you to send a letter to that person as well as Senators Burr and Tillis.
LINK: Visit resistbot.io or text “RESIST” to 50409

Need talking points?

Are you ready to take action but are still unsure of what to say? Go here for some talking points on what to say and write: digitalcharlotte.org/fccscript

Network cabling photo by Flickr contributor frankieleon, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.