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Americans Plan Massive 'Net Neutrality' Protest Next Week (theguardian.com)
An anonymous reader quotes the Guardian:
A coalition of activists, consumer groups and writers are calling on supporters to attend the next meeting of the Federal Communications Commission on September 26 in Washington DC. The next day, the protest will move to Capitol Hill, where people will meet legislators to express their concerns about an FCC proposal to rewrite the rules governing the internet... The activist groups are encouraging internet users to meet their lawmakers and tell them how a free and open internet is vital to their lives and their livelihoods...
"The FCC seems dead set on killing net neutrality, but they have to answer to Congress, and Congress has to answer to us, their constituents," said Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future, one of the protest's organisers. "With this day of advocacy, we're harnessing the power of the web to make it possible for ordinary internet users to meet directly with their senators and representatives to tell their stories, and make sure that lawmakers hear from the public, not just lobbyists for AT&T and Verizon," she said.
Monday Mozilla and the Internet Archive are also inviting the public to a free panel discussion featuring former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on ways the American public can act to preserve net neutrality.
"The FCC seems dead set on killing net neutrality, but they have to answer to Congress, and Congress has to answer to us, their constituents," said Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future, one of the protest's organisers. "With this day of advocacy, we're harnessing the power of the web to make it possible for ordinary internet users to meet directly with their senators and representatives to tell their stories, and make sure that lawmakers hear from the public, not just lobbyists for AT&T and Verizon," she said.
Monday Mozilla and the Internet Archive are also inviting the public to a free panel discussion featuring former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on ways the American public can act to preserve net neutrality.
"and Congress has to answer to us, their constituents,"
That's the funniest thing I've ever read...
The problem is the ISP and the communication Infrastructure are one and the same.
Back during the dial-up days, we had hundreds of ISPs in a single aria code, while AOL was the king, they were many ISPs who could provide internet access as well. Most of them were BBSs who added SLIP and/or PPP access.
But this meant that if you wanted to connect to the internet you had 2 bills. Your phone line bill which pays for for the infrastructure, and your ISP where it was the gateway to the Internet.
Now with broadband, as a necessary standard we normally pay a company who controls the wires and the service. In rural areas you may have only one choice usually Cable or DSL. But once you get the communication infrastructure you also have to rely on the whims of the same company for hosting the ISP.
Now governments local, state and federal have a slew of laws around these, because this infrastructure is rather invasive. Running across private property. So even if you were to start you own company you will still need to be politically involved to try to get these laws changed so you can be allowed to distribute your service to your customer base.
This isn't about being whiny liberals, (as the conservatives whine complain and demand they must be treated like special snowflakes on different topics) but needing to protest a system that isn't treating the public fairly.
Yes political protesters tend to come with stupid arguments and often over simplify the problem. But it difficult to post a 300 page thesis on the complexity of the problems, vs just saying AT&T is trying to kill your you tube Chanel.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
"...they have to answer to Congress, and Congress has to answer to us, their constituents,"
Before you go spouting off regarding who answers to whom, remember just how much people don't give a shit about Rights anymore. Just last week, Millennial's confirmed they would gladly give up their Right to Vote in exchange for getting some college debt relief.