“This is the free speech fight of our generation” — Here’s how you can help save net neutrality

We have two weeks to save the internet. Contact the FCC Commissioners and your representatives today. Then mark your calendars for nationwide protests on December 7th. Keep reading for more info!

On December 14th, the FCC will vote on a plan to repeal net neutrality. This is a big deal. Net neutrality protections ensure that internet service providers (ISPs) cannot censor online speech by making certain websites slow to load or more expensive to access.  

If we lose net neutrality, ISPs will be able to create fast and slow lanes on the internet, or force you to buy package deals just like you have to for cable channels. And if you don’t like the service your ISP provides, you may be stuck — only 22% of Americans have more than one broadband service provider to choose from!

According to the Congressional Progressive Caucus, scrapping net neutrality protections will burden “smaller independent websites with slower load times and consumers with obstructed access to the internet — a particularly harmful decision for communities of color, students, and online activists. This is an assault on the freedom of speech and therefore our democracy.” 

“This is the free speech fight of our generation,” says Evan Greer of Fight for the Future. Here’s what you can do to help save the future:

1. Call your members of Congress and demand that they speak out against FCC Chair Ajit Pai’s plan to scrap net neutrality. Tell them to get involved! Apparently, some lawmakers are waiting to hear from constituents before they decide whether to take a public stand for net neutrality. So don’t neglect this step! 

Your talking points:

• Americans need and want net neutrality protections to ensure free speech on the internet. The FCC received a record-setting 22 million public comments, the majority in support of net neutrality.
• You want your rep to publicly oppose the FCC’s plan to repeal net neutrality protections.
• If the FCC votes to repeal net neutrality, you want your rep to sponsor legislation that would guarantee net neutrality protections.
• (If you have a Republican House Representative) Join your Republican colleague in the Senate, Susan Collins (ME), who has announced her opposition the FCC’s plan to repeal net neutrality! 

Do you hate making phone calls? No problem, call after hours and leave a voicemail. Not sure who your House rep is? Find out here. 

2. Call or email the FCC commission members at 202-418-1000 or 888-CALL-FCC (225-5322). Thank the two commissioners, Mignon Clyburn (Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov) and Jessica Rosenworcel (Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov), who have already announced they will vote against the FCC plan to get rid of net neutrality. Call or email the other three commission members (Ajit Pai, Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov; Michael O’Rielly, Mike.O’Rielly@fcc.gov; and Brendan Carr, Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov) and urge them to listen to the millions of Americans who left public comments and keep net neutrality protections in place! 

3. Attend one of the nationwide Verizon protests on Dec. 7th. Organized by Team Internet (a coalition of companies, individuals, and organizations such as the ACLU, Free Press Action Fund, Demand Progress and Fight for the Future), Americans will gather outside of Verizon stores all over the country to protest former Verizon lawyer Ajit Pai‘s plan to gut net neutrality, a move which will benefit Verizon but not the American people, small businesses, or grassroots groups like STAND CNJ!

 Peaceful Verizon protests are planned in the following locations in and around New Jersey. (You can search for protests in other locations here). 

On Thursday, December 7th

• call your representatives and let them know you stand in solidarity with all the Americans protesting on 12/7
• call or email the FCC commissioners and let them know you stand in solidarity with the Verizon protestors
• share information about the protests before, on, and after December 7th (email your friends, or post on FB or Twitter)
• write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper explaining why you support Verizon protestors and net neutrality

6. Join Team Internet and sign up for email alerts about future actions.

LEARN MORE

• About net neutrality
• About the ACLU’s support for net neutrality protections