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Today's post is about Net Neutrality.
What is Net Neutrality?
I got most of my info for this post from a website called savetheinternet.com.
This site describes Net Neutrality as follows:
When you go online you have certain expectations. You expect to be connected to whatever website you want. You expect that your cable or phone company isn’t messing with the data and is connecting you to all websites, applications and content you choose. You expect to be in control of your internet experience.
When you use the internet you expect Net Neutrality.
Without net neutrality, we don't have that.
The internet without Net Neutrality isn’t really the internet. Unlike the open internet that has paved the way for so much innovation and given a platform to people who have historically been shut out, it would become a closed-down network where cable and phone companies call the shots and decide which websites, content or applications succeed.
This would have an enormous impact. Companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon would be able to decide who is heard and who isn’t. They’d be able to block websites or content they don’t like or applications that compete with their own offerings.
Read more: here
Why is Net Neutrality and issue right now?
Under a policy called Title II, Net Neutrality is protected.
But Trump's head of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Ajit Paj, would like to use what he is calling a "light touch" Title I approach, which would do little to nothing to protect internet users.
Title II gives the FCC the authority it needs to ensure that companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon can’t block, throttle or otherwise interfere with web traffic. Title II preserves the internet’s level playing field, allowing people to share and access information of their choosing.
What will happen with Ajit Pai's new plan?
It will be much harder for online campaigns, and especially devastating those which are advocating for communities, to get off the ground.
It will be much harder for the individual to share their voice on the internet.
This website is my small ripple in the big wave of internet advocacy. Without Net Neutrality, we couldn't have this website.
Companies like Google and Facebook probably wouldn't have been able to work.
I look at movements like Black Lives Matter, the Women's March, the outpouring of support on websites like Twitter for DACA, Puerto Rico, the victims of sexual assault, national tragedy.
All of these would not have been possible without Net Neutrality.
The open internet allows people of color to tell their own stories and organize for racial and social justice. When activists are able to turn out thousands of people in the streets at a moment’s notice, it’s because ISPs aren’t allowed to block their messages or websites.
The open internet allows people of color and other vulnerable communities to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. Without Net Neutrality, ISPs could block speech and prevent dissident voices from speaking freely online. Without Net Neutrality, people of color would lose a vital platform.
What can I do?
Sign a petition and call your senators, you can do both right here
You can text RESIST to 50409, which will text a bot called ResistBot which will help connect you to writing your representatives. It only takes a few minutes!
Spread information. Information is second only to action.
You can leave a message directly in the in the voicemail of the FCC chairman by calling 1-202-418-1000
Other Resources
If you would, I'm sure it would be very beneficial to you to check out these other resources that may be more educational, some of which I referenced to inform myself. I will add to this list of resources if I have time.
Read about the issue from The New York Times
Savetheinternet.com
Why you should care about Net Neutrality (video, wired.com)
I would recommend checking out the twitter #NetNeutrality , Twitter users may have more resources than I do.
Thank you, and if I don't carve out any time to write a Thanksgiving post before the holiday, have a wonderful Thanksgiving if you celebrate.
-M