Your Democratic representatives in Congress want to do everything they can to support net neutrality but they need your help. There is always pressure from the usual right-wing crowd.  Your congressman needs to hear from you in order to do the correct thing.  Even if you already know your rep. supports net neutrality, that is no longer enough. We need them to take specific action to stop FCC Chair Wheeler’s plan to kill the internet.  We need the FCC to reclassify internet service providers as common carriers or public utilities so the FCC can have a greater ability to maintain net neutrality and prevent corporations from discriminating against certain websites and content.  See previous post on BFIA

The leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have penned a sign-on letter to FCC Chair Tom Wheeler asking him to withdraw his plan to allow the corporate takeover of the Internet and an end to net neutrality. We need as many Democrats to sign the letter as possible. It’s now or never for net neutrality. Call your member of Congress today.

The Honorable Thomas Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Wheeler,

As you develop a proposal to oversee access to the Internet, we urge you to adopt strong and enforceable open Internet rules that proactively protect Internet users from unfair practices, including the blockage of lawful traffic or discrimination among content providers by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The rules must preserve the Internet as the open platform that it is today by recognizing our nation’s communications providers as common carriers. Without strong protections, the Internet could devolve into a closed platform in which those who pay the most can overwhelm other views and ideas.

We agree with your previous statements and those from President Obama that expressed similar concerns. ISPs will continue to explore ways to boost revenue by imposing discriminatory charges that will decrease the openness of the Internet. There is ample evidence that protecting the open Internet against such threats is critical for users and businesses alike. However, reports indicate that the current FCC proposal creates an Internet fast lane that would prioritize some Internet traffic and allow ISPs to discriminate against everyone else. The FCC cannot protect the open Internet by allowing discrimination.

We urge the FCC to use its clear authority under Title II of the Communications Act to reclassify the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service. Recognizing our nation’s communications providers as common carriers under the law is common sense. Reclassification would also complement the Commission’s efforts to promote innovation, competition and investment in universally available, reliable and affordable broadband infrastructure.

Over one million people have already gone on the record in support of reclassification. We urge the FCC to consider this support for strong, enforceable open Internet rules as it moves forward with the rulemaking process.

Sincerely,

Raúl Grijalva
MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Keith Ellison
MEMBER OF CONGRESS

CC: Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Michael O’Reilly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission