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SergeantQueen's avatar

Would you guys like to save the internet?

Asked by SergeantQueen (12874points) November 28th, 2017

I understand this this topic has been brought up before on Fluther, but because I believe this is a super important subject and because we have about 3 weeks left to fight this, I’m bringing it up again.

For those who don’t know:
Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, and Time Warner Cable are joining forces to mess our internet freedoms up. They are going to limit bandwidth to sites they don’t like or sites that are in competition with what they are providing/ owning. This means certain sites like movie or music streaming sites will be slowed down a lot.
They are going to be able to block websites that have content/information they don’t agree with.

AND, they are going to put small business in danger by applying data caps to their websites, and because it’s a small business they may not be able to keep up with all the charges.

They are basically also going to make us pay for “Packages” Like, for example, 20$ a month or year for social networking and 20$ for music streaming and 20$ for movie streaming like Netflix. They will treat it like cableTV. They will bundle up things and make you pay extra for things we shouldn’t have to pay for.

We have until December 14th!!!!! July 12th was the day of action, but it isn’t too late!!!!!!!! Even if you already signed, it wouldn’t hurt to sign again!!!

Here is a source to call/ write local congress
Here Is an article talking about Comcast possibly making users pay for “Fast lanes”
Here is an easy explanation of net neutrality.

I know this may be considered a duplicate question, but again, it’s super important

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20 Answers

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

Here is what a friend of mine posted on Facebook. These are my friend’s words. These are not my words, but I will be calling the numbers listed and using the other way to speak up that is also talked about.

Congress and the Senate have nothing to do with the vote to keep Net Neutrality. Only five people at the FCC get to vote. Their names are Ajit Pai, Mignon Clyburn, Michael O’Rielly, Brendan Carr, and Jessica Rosenworcel. Both Mignon and Jessica plan to vote keep Net Neutrality, to defeat the net neutrality repeal one of these three men need to change their vote. Any change to be made has to be by directly contacting them. To do so here are the numbers easiest to contact them with:
Ajit Pai: 202–518-7399
Michael O’Rielly: 301–657-9092
Brendan Carr: 202–719-7305
Please, please, PLEASE contact these people! Net Neutrality is an immensely important part of what all of us here on Facebook and across the entire internet enjoy on a daily basis. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!
You may also call this number 202–418-1000. It will connect you with FCC tell them your name and State: “ I am a concerned citizen from…..Your State…calling to express my disapproval that the FCC is trying to kill Net Neutrality and the strong Title II oversights ISP’S,. or Text 50409 Stop Internet censorship!
Do it before your Internet Rights get stripped away.

SergeantQueen's avatar

The Battleforthenet site says that “Congress can put a stop to all of this. Write them first, then call!” Does Congress really have nothing to do with this? I haven’t found anything that says that.

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

Congress can pass a law to regulate the Internet, but our Congress is dysfunctional right now. They can’t get anything done. Getting legislation done, through Congress, and then signed by the President is very long and very difficult. Contacting the commissioners is quick and may work.

elbanditoroso's avatar

Congress is impotent and lame. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t pass a bill to save their lives. Appealing to Congress to fix something is like pissing in the wind.

Frankly, the fix is in – Pai was aching to do this even before Trumpie was elected. This is bad, and a complete sellout to the cell phone and internet providers. Remember, Pai used to be a VP at Verizon – that tells you what you need to know.

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

@elbanditoroso It is not okay to give up before the fight is over. I, for one, am going to call O’Reilly and Carr and give them my opinion.

Pandora's avatar

First number is and the 3rd are not working. I got a busy signal on the middle number. I was able to get through on the 4th number 202–418–1000 and left a message. The fourth number seems to be the number for Ajit Pai, the first guy listed.

stanleybmanly's avatar

In theory Congress is supposed to be neutral. Just as in theory Congresspeople cannot be bribed. The reality is that Pei was appointed by Trump because of his view that the internet is “over regulated”. In other words, he’s in the pockets of internet providers, and this current scam is a clearcut example of the FCC siding with corporations to the detriment of consumers. It’s our government once again openly conspiring against the public interest. This fight is an effort to deny the reality that the internet is in FACT a public utility and MUST be regulated as such. Our only defense is to bitch loudly and all of us must participate.

SergeantQueen's avatar

The point here isn’t whether or not Congress does its job. It’s the fact that our internet freedom is at risk, and not only that but the fact that these corporations have the power to even do this!

Zachary_Mendes123's avatar

I haven’t heard anything about this. This is a shock to me.

stanleybmanly's avatar

The actual point is that a great deal of stink has to be raised by the public in order to prevail against the will of corporations with our bought and paid for politicians in their pockets. Even massive public outrage might fail to turn the trick.

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

This page has email addresses for each commissioner.

SergeantQueen's avatar

Make sure you are respectful in your calls/emails. Apparently, some people have been threatening Pei’s children. Don’t do that.

flutherother's avatar

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s main point seems to be that he wants less heavy handed regulation of the internet. This doesn’t sound unreasonable but it is false. What FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is advocating is less heavy handed regulation of the big telecoms companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T. They will then be free to regulate the Internet we know and love in ways that suit them and their income streams.

If I were an American I wouldn’t be happy with this at all.

Zaku's avatar

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is transparently a tool of corporate interests, not a public servant.

imrainmaker's avatar

Similar thing Facebook tried in India couple of years back which wasn’t successful because of people pressure and stand taken by governing body. Here’s the link
I’m wondering if this can be achieved by indian people why not in USA?

imrainmaker's avatar

As seen in the link stand taken by governing body was crucial which exactly opposite to that of FCC!!

Lightlyseared's avatar

Getting rid of net netrality was Trump election pledge. Ajit Pai is just doing what the person who gave him he job asked him to do (just like all his major election pledges they pro business and anti consumer). If he doesn’t succeed then I’m sure Trump will find someone else to do it.

imrainmaker's avatar

^why he’s still in office then?

Lightlyseared's avatar

Because it looks like he’s going to succeed. All it takes is for the FCC itself to decide to repeal it and it’s done pretty much. The republicans have a majority on the FCC and are expected to vote in favour.

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