When you attack the Internet, the Internet fights back.
Today, the Internet went all out in support of net neutrality. Hundreds of popular websites featured pop-ups suggesting that those sites had been blocked or throttled by Internet service providers. Some sites got hilariously creative—Twitch replaced all of its emojis with that annoying loading icon. Netflix shared GIFs that would never finish loading. PornHub simply noted that “slow porn sucks.”
Together, we painted an alarming picture of what the Internet might look like if the FCC goes forward with its plan to roll back net neutrality protections: ISPs prioritizing their favored content sources and deprioritizing everything else. (Fight for the Future has put together a great collection of examples of how sites participated in the day of action.)
Today has been about Internet users across the country who are afraid of large ISPs getting too much say in how we use the Internet. Voices ranged from huge corporations to ordinary Internet users like you and me.
Together with Battle for the Net and other friends, we delivered 1.6 million comments to the FCC, breaking the record we set during Internet Slowdown Day in 2014. The message was clear: we all rely on the Internet. Don’t dismantle net neutrality protections.
If you haven’t added your voice yet, it’s not too late. Take a few moments to tell the FCC why net neutrality is important to you. If you already have, take a moment to encourage your friends to do the same.
Here are just a few examples of what Team Internet has been saying about net neutrality today.
“We live in an uncompetitive broadband market. That market is dominated by a handful of giant corporations that are being given the keys to shape telecom policy. The big internet companies that might challenge them are doing it half-heartedly. And [FCC Chairman] Ajit Pai seems determined to offer up a massive corporate handout without listening to everyday Americans.
“Is this what you want? Does this sound like a path toward better, faster, cheaper internet access? Toward better products and services in a more competitive market? To me, it sounds like Americans need to demand that our government actually hear our concerns, look at our skyrocketing bills, and make real policy that respects us, instead of watching the staff of an unelected official laugh as he ignores us. It sounds like we need to flood the offices of the FCC and Congress with calls and paperwork, demanding to know how giving handouts to huge corporations will help us.”
“Title II net neutrality protections are the civil rights and free speech rules for the internet. When traditional media outlets refuse to pay attention, Black, indigenous, queer and trans internet users can harness the power of the Internet to fight for lives free of police brutality and discrimination. This is why we’ll never stop fighting for enforcement of the net neutrality rules we fought for and saw passed by the FCC two years ago. There’s too much at stake to urge anything less.”
Malkia Cyril, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Center for Media Justice
“We’re still picking ourselves off the floor from all the laughing we did when AT&T issued a press release this afternoon announcing that it was joining the ‘Day of Action for preserving and advancing the open internet.’
“If only it were true. In reality, AT&T is just a company that is deliberately misleading the public. Their lobbyists are lying. They want to kill Title II — which gives the FCC the authority to actually enforce net neutrality — and are trying to sell a congressional ‘compromise’ that would be as bad or worse than what the FCC is proposing. No thanks.”
Craig Aaron and Candace Clement, Free Press
InternetIRL, presented by Color of Change
“Everyone except these ISPs benefits from an open Internet… that’s it. It’s like a handful of companies. Not only is this about business—and it is about business and innovation—it’s also about freedom of speech.”
“No matter what, do not get discouraged or retreat into a state of silence and inaction. There are many like me who are listening and the role each of us plays is vital. We are not alone in believing that the FCC should be a governmental agency ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people.’”
Mignon Clyburn, FCC Commissioner
To everyone who has participated in today’s day of action, thank you.
