Activists Pursue a Truly Free Internet

February 26th 2015 is an important date in the world of internet activists, one that they have had marked on their calendars for months. On this date the Federal Communications Commission will make its ruling on whether or not the internet will be regulated as a utility by the government rather than by private companies, notably Comcast. For proponents of net neutrality this is an opportunity to take a historically open forum (the internet) and keep it completely equal for all. People in favor of this position, including FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, are not fooling around, either. The Fight for the Future group, organized in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2011, is one such group. They used grassroots techniques such as political organizing, as well as newer techniques such as going around the FCCs switchboard in order to spread their message directly to thousands of FCC employees. Through this process the group was able to appeal to massive amounts of people, spreading their pro-neutrality message to desks that otherwise would not have received their calls. These activist actions are not limited to grassroots campaigns and start-ups, however. Netflix, for instance, is supportive of the net neutrality cause and they threw in their bid with Fight for the Future. Most important to the success of net neutrality advocates, however, is the support of Tom Wheeler. According in an interview with Juan Gonzales and Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!, a liberal radio broadcast, Wheeler is ready to pass the most protective legislation ever written for the internet. The ability of grassroots movements to influence top level decisions has proven decisive in the campaign for net neutrality. Groups like Fight for the Future hold enormous power which is especially evident in their recruitment of top officials, including President Obama whose public support of net neutrality pushed Wheeler to issue the statement mentioned above. The proponents of net neutrality may still have to fight against large telecommunications companies in the future but with February 26th fast approaching they, at least for now, seem to be running a downhill race.

— JBethke

How Americans are Countering Opponents of Net Neutrality

February 26th 2015 is an important date in the world of internet activists, one that they have had marked on their calendars for months. On this date the Federal Communications Commission will make its ruling on whether or not the internet will be regulated as a utility by the government rather than by private companies, notably Comcast. For proponents of net neutrality this is an opportunity to take a historically open forum (the internet) and keep it completely equal for all. People in favor of this position, including FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, are not fooling around, either. The Fight for the Future group, organized in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2011, is one such group. They used grassroots techniques such as political organizing, as well as newer techniques such as going around the FCCs switchboard in order to spread their message directly to thousands of FCC employees. Through this process the group was able to appeal to massive amounts of people, spreading their pro-neutrality message to desks that otherwise would not have received their calls. These activist actions are not limited to grassroots campaigns and start-ups, however. Netflix, for instance, is supportive of the net neutrality cause and they threw in their bid with Fight for the Future. Most important to the success of net neutrality advocates, however, is the support of Tom Wheeler. According in an interview with Juan Gonzales and Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!, a liberal radio broadcast, Wheeler is ready to pass the most protective legislation ever written for the internet. The ability of grassroots movements to influence top level decisions has proven decisive in the campaign for net neutrality. Groups like Fight for the Future hold enormous power which is especially evident in their recruitment of top officials, including President Obama whose public support of net neutrality pushed Wheeler to issue the statement mentioned above. The proponents of net neutrality may still have to fight against large telecommunications companies in the future but with February 26th fast approaching they, at least for now, seem to be running a downhill race

— JBethke