Good morning, won't you please take some time to save Net Neutrality?

📅 Historical note: This post was written in July 2017, ahead of the FCC's December 2017 vote to repeal net neutrality rules. The repeal passed. The FCC partially restored net neutrality protections in 2024, and the fight continues. The action links below are no longer active, but the arguments still stand.

What is net neutrality? From Battle for the Net:

"Net neutrality is the basic principle that protects our free speech on the Internet. 'Title II' of the Communications Act is what provides the legal foundation for net neutrality and prevents Internet Service Providers like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T from slowing down and blocking websites, or charging apps and sites extra fees to reach an audience (which they then pass along to consumers.)"

The Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was moving to repeal the FCC's 2015 decision to reclassify broadband providers as common carriers under Title II. This would essentially hand ISPs the ability to regulate how you use the Internet. Worst-case scenarios included:

• ISPs charging Netflix and Hulu more for people to access their sites
• Comcast throttling Netflix traffic to promote their own streaming service

From NPR:

"One key element at stake is the idea of paid prioritization, which would give Internet providers the ability to strike deals with content companies to give some apps and websites — or their own services — special treatment. This is particularly a sensitive matter to Vimeo... Vimeo's general counsel Michael Cheah says paid prioritization would 'cable-ize the Internet' and hurt independent and small creators."

If ISPs can speed up and slow down sites for money, and force small businesses to pay extra fees just to be reachable, that's a tax on everything. It costs all of us more for less.

How can you help? Start by writing a letter to the FCC letting them know that you support a free and open Internet. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has created an incredibly simple tool to help you do that: dearfcc.org. A more fun alternative is gofccyourself.com, a link John Oliver made. Beyond that, contact your Senators and representatives in Congress.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation remains one of the best organizations fighting for a free and open Internet. If this issue matters to you, consider supporting their work.

Stand up for an open Internet.