A Milestone in the Fight for an Open Internet
April 26th, 2007 by tkarrGrassroots pressure has “turned the tide” in the Net Neutrality debate, taking an issue once thought to be a slam dunk for the phone companies and turning it into a political third rail in Washington.
Activists, business leaders and politicians praised SavetheInternet.com’s success elevating this vital free speech issue as the Coalition turned one this week — pledging to carry on the fight for Internet freedom in the halls of Congress.
Sen. Dorgan: Defending Our Freedom To Choose
Sen. Byron Dorgan |
“In this relatively short time, this issue of Net Neutrality being debated has moved from an unknown technical issue to one of the dominant telecommunications and Internet policy debates here in Washington DC,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who spoke Thursday alongside business leader Craig Newmark of craigslist and others on a conference call celebrating the Coalition’s first anniversary.
With Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Dorgan has introduced the bipartisan “Internet Freedom Preservation Act” (S. 215), which prevents the phone and cable duopoly from becoming the Web’s gatekeepers. “The freedom to choose — the very core of what makes the Internet what it is today — must be preserved,” Dorgan said, pledging to take his legislation to the Senate floor this year.
Sen. Wyden: SavetheInternet.com has ‘Turned the Tide’
Sen. Ron Wyden |
“Sixteen months ago, when I began to fight to keep the Internet free of discrimination for consumers and businesses, it was a pretty lonely battle,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. “With the SavetheInternet.com Coalition, I now fight alongside almost 2 million people and some great congressional partners, battling to preserve Net Neutrality. SavetheInternet.com’s presence has helped turn the tide in this critical debate.”
Rep. Markey: Neutrality’s Champion
“Saving the Internet is vital for civic involvement, entrepreneurial activity, communications and free speech,” said Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. “On the anniversary of this grassroots effort, I welcome the renewed and growing support shown for common-sense protections for freedom on the Internet and am eager to battle to put such protections on the books this Congress.”
Tim Wu: Opposing Neutrality a Political ‘Third Rail’
Professor Tim Wu |
“I think SavetheInternet.com’s success surprised everyone, especially those who thought the public was way too uninterested in issues like ‘Net Neutrality’ to give a damn,” said Tim Wu, a leading Internet scholar who first coined the term Net Neutrality.
“Opposing Net Neutrality has emerged as a third rail of telecom politics,” Wu said. “It’s one that politicians touch at their peril.”
Wu believes that the Coalition forced a “sea change” in the way people regard telecom policy – a change that has terrified the phone company lobbyists who once had an easy time forcing industry-friendly legislation through Congress. “The plan was to quietly bulldoze through telecom legislation last year to disable the FCC’s oversight of Net Neutrality,” Wu said. “It was a shock to everyone involved, the strength of the reaction.”
Chris Rabb: Net Neutrality a Civic Right
Chris Rabb, Afro-Netizen |
“The Coalition’s very success over the past year is a testament to the egalitarian and inclusive nature of the Internet itself, which now millions of Americans see is worth safeguarding under federal law,” said Chris Rabb, Founder and “Chief Evangelist” of Afro-Netizen.
“The cost, quality and range of Americans’ access to, and navigation on, the Internet should not be determined by a corporate prerogative, but protected as a consumer and civic right.”
Adam Green: A ‘Grassroots Internet Revolution’
“What we’ve seen over the last year with the SavetheInternet.com Coalition is nothing short of a grassroots Internet revolution — and that revolution will continue this year until Congress reinstates Net Neutrality into law,” said Adam Green of MoveOn.org Civic Action. “Through solid grassroots activism, millions of Internet users derailed a bill that would let companies like AT&T and Verizon dictate what Web sites you can access on your computer.”
Gigi Sohn: Grassroots vs. Telcos
Gigi Sohn of Public Knowledge |
“The contrast could not be more stark between an organization of dedicated grassroots activists and public-interest organizations on one side and the entrenched incumbents on the other,” said Gigi B. Sohn, founder and president of Public Knowledge.
“We look forward to moving ahead this year on a comprehensive telecommunications policy that will result not only in an Internet based on Net Neutrality, but in making high-speed Internet service more affordable and available across the country.”
Michelle Combs: Neutrality a Family Issue
Michelle Combs of the Christian Coalition |
“We believe that Net Neutrality is a true family issue,” said Michelle Combs of the Christian Coalition of America which has many state franchises and churches that rely on the Internet to communicate to their members.
“We’d really like for this issue to be part of the presidential campaign on the Republican and Democratic side,” Combs said. “It’s number 2 on our legislative agenda.”
What Real Grassroots Look Like
While phone and cable companies spent millions and millions on inside-the-Beltway advertising and Astroturf groups, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition — which takes no corporate money — kick-started a public conversation about what the future of the Internet should look like. Word spread thanks to local organizers, bloggers of all stripes, and Internet auteurs, who made dozens of viral videos about the looming threat to Internet freedom.
In just the past few weeks, local SavetheInternet.com Coalition activists have attended more than 40 “in-district” meetings with their members of Congress. From Shoreline, Wash. to Palm Harbor, Fla., Providence, R.I., to Bakersfield, Calif., hundreds of activists urged their elected officials to support Net Neutrality in the 110th Congress. Several new members pledged to support Net Neutrality legislation when it came to a vote in Congress.
SavetheInternet at One: Slaying the Shills |
In the weeks ahead, the coalition will be encouraging its members not only to keep the pressure on Congress, but to make their voices heard by filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission, which recently started an official inquiry into the issue. At the same time, state legislatures and city councils are considering resolutions in support of the issue. And Net Neutrality has been highlighted by many major candidates running for president.
A year ago, all the so-called experts said we would never win anything. They said millions of people would never care about an issue called Net Neutrality. They said we had no chance of stopping phone and cable companies with their deep pockets, phony front groups and armies of lobbyists.
We proved them wrong. And we’ll prove them wrong again. This has been an exciting year, but we won’t rest until we’ve done all we can to bring neutral, faster, affordable Internet to everyone.
