Protests Will Be Ongoing Until FCC Commission Meeting on May 15, 2014
Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—May 6, 2014. On Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at noon the first in a series of actions will take place at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at 445 12th Street, SW to protest a proposal to end net neutrality and create a tiered Internet based on wealth. Protests will continue on every weekday until the next open meeting of the commission on May 15 when the proposal will be considered.
Already the FCC has received more than a million comments supporting net neutrality and thousands of phone calls against a proposal being put forward by the Chair of the Commission, Tom Wheeler. Protesters oppose the Chair’s proposal as they want to continue a free and open Internet where everyone has equal access.
The protesters are urging the FCC to:
1. Reject the proposal. President Obama campaigned as the net neutrality candidate. He appointed all five Commissioners of the FCC. The Commission should act consistently with President Obama’s campaign position and the FCC’s own mission to promote net neutrality. Acting opposite of what the people voted for undermines the democratic legitimacy of government on the critical issue Internet freedom.
2. Reclassify broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service that can be regulated in the public interest. Under President Bush the Internet was redefined as an “information service” limiting the FCC’s ability to regulate it. This decision needs to be reversed so the FCC can properly regulate the Internet to prevent discrimination and escalating costs. Chairman Wheeler opposes reclassification but said that reclassification is on the table.
The protests are being organized by Popular Resistance in partnership with organizations that work to protect the Internet and media.
For more information see “Save The Internet!”
