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"It would give corporate executives free reign to slow down and censor news or websites that don't match their political agenda." (Photo: Free Press/Flickr/cc)
Tell The FCC Not To End Net Neutrality!
In the modern age, unfettered access to the internet is essential to a vibrant democracy and strong economy.
Dec 12, 2017
The FCC is voting Thursday on whether to repeal the "Net Neutrality" rule adopted in 2015.
Since its creation, the internet has been an open exchange of ideas and information, free from corporate control and influence. But corporations could soon have tremendous power over what we can access and share online, ending the internet as we know it.
In 2015, the FCC passed a landmark rule that prevents internet service providers from favoring some sites over others - slowing down connections or charging customers a fee for streaming or other services. It gave Americans equal access to all the content that's available on the internet - videos, social media, e-commerce sites, etc - at the same speeds.
Now, though, Donald Trump's handpicked chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, wants to abolish "Net Neutrality." He wants to give telecommunications giants like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T the upper hand.
Pai - himself a former Verizon executive - defends the rollback by "Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet." Baloney. His plan would be a huge gift to cable companies. It would:
1. Drive up prices for internet service. Broadband providers could charge customers higher rates to access certain sites, or raise rates for internet companies to reach consumers faster speeds. Either way, these prices hikes would be passed along to you and me.
2. Give corporate executives free reign to slow down and censor news or websites that don't match their political agenda, or give preference to their own content - for any reason at all.
3. Stifle innovation. Cable companies could severely hurt their competitors by blocking certain apps or online services. Small businesses who can't afford to pay higher rates could be squeezed out altogether.
Broadband providers claim that Net Neutrality rules actually hurts consumers because it discourages investment in their networks.
Rubbish. Since Net Neutrality was adopted, investment has remained consistent. During calls with investors, telecom executives themselves have even admitted that Net Neutrality hasn't hurt their businesses.
In the modern age, unfettered access to the internet is essential to a vibrant democracy and strong economy.
There's still time. Please help stop this corporate power grab over what we can say and do online.
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Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Robert Reich
Robert Reich is professor emeritus of public policy at Berkeley and former US secretary of labor. His latest book is the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Coming Up Short."
The FCC is voting Thursday on whether to repeal the "Net Neutrality" rule adopted in 2015.
Since its creation, the internet has been an open exchange of ideas and information, free from corporate control and influence. But corporations could soon have tremendous power over what we can access and share online, ending the internet as we know it.
In 2015, the FCC passed a landmark rule that prevents internet service providers from favoring some sites over others - slowing down connections or charging customers a fee for streaming or other services. It gave Americans equal access to all the content that's available on the internet - videos, social media, e-commerce sites, etc - at the same speeds.
Now, though, Donald Trump's handpicked chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, wants to abolish "Net Neutrality." He wants to give telecommunications giants like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T the upper hand.
Pai - himself a former Verizon executive - defends the rollback by "Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet." Baloney. His plan would be a huge gift to cable companies. It would:
1. Drive up prices for internet service. Broadband providers could charge customers higher rates to access certain sites, or raise rates for internet companies to reach consumers faster speeds. Either way, these prices hikes would be passed along to you and me.
2. Give corporate executives free reign to slow down and censor news or websites that don't match their political agenda, or give preference to their own content - for any reason at all.
3. Stifle innovation. Cable companies could severely hurt their competitors by blocking certain apps or online services. Small businesses who can't afford to pay higher rates could be squeezed out altogether.
Broadband providers claim that Net Neutrality rules actually hurts consumers because it discourages investment in their networks.
Rubbish. Since Net Neutrality was adopted, investment has remained consistent. During calls with investors, telecom executives themselves have even admitted that Net Neutrality hasn't hurt their businesses.
In the modern age, unfettered access to the internet is essential to a vibrant democracy and strong economy.
There's still time. Please help stop this corporate power grab over what we can say and do online.
Robert Reich
Robert Reich is professor emeritus of public policy at Berkeley and former US secretary of labor. His latest book is the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Coming Up Short."
The FCC is voting Thursday on whether to repeal the "Net Neutrality" rule adopted in 2015.
Since its creation, the internet has been an open exchange of ideas and information, free from corporate control and influence. But corporations could soon have tremendous power over what we can access and share online, ending the internet as we know it.
In 2015, the FCC passed a landmark rule that prevents internet service providers from favoring some sites over others - slowing down connections or charging customers a fee for streaming or other services. It gave Americans equal access to all the content that's available on the internet - videos, social media, e-commerce sites, etc - at the same speeds.
Now, though, Donald Trump's handpicked chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, wants to abolish "Net Neutrality." He wants to give telecommunications giants like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T the upper hand.
Pai - himself a former Verizon executive - defends the rollback by "Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet." Baloney. His plan would be a huge gift to cable companies. It would:
1. Drive up prices for internet service. Broadband providers could charge customers higher rates to access certain sites, or raise rates for internet companies to reach consumers faster speeds. Either way, these prices hikes would be passed along to you and me.
2. Give corporate executives free reign to slow down and censor news or websites that don't match their political agenda, or give preference to their own content - for any reason at all.
3. Stifle innovation. Cable companies could severely hurt their competitors by blocking certain apps or online services. Small businesses who can't afford to pay higher rates could be squeezed out altogether.
Broadband providers claim that Net Neutrality rules actually hurts consumers because it discourages investment in their networks.
Rubbish. Since Net Neutrality was adopted, investment has remained consistent. During calls with investors, telecom executives themselves have even admitted that Net Neutrality hasn't hurt their businesses.
In the modern age, unfettered access to the internet is essential to a vibrant democracy and strong economy.
There's still time. Please help stop this corporate power grab over what we can say and do online.
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