People + Policy
= Positive Change for the Public Good
SAVE THE INTERNET
Millions have united to protect the open internet.
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On Feb. 26, 2015, the FCC approved strong open internet rules under Title II of the Communications Act.
This is the biggest victory for the public interest in the agency’s history. And it wouldn’t have happened if not for the millions of people who pushed the FCC to act.
And on June 14, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected an industry challenge to the rules and upheld the FCC's Open Internet Order in all respects, stating that the agency exercised its proper authority when it reclassified broadband internet access as a telecom service.
The cable and phone companies won’t back down, but our message is clear: Mess with the internet and you’ll lose.
What's Next?
Defend Net Neutrality
A year of unprecedented grassroots organizing pushed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to abandon an industry-friendly proposal and instead propose rules that ban blocking, throttling and paid prioritization under Title II of the Communications Act. The full FCC approved these rules in a historic vote in 2015 and a court upheld this decision on June 14, 2016. Title II’s sound legal footing will safeguard this win, but that won’t stop the cable and phone companies from trying to tear it down.
Fight back.
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The Open Internet Is Critical
Net Neutrality has made the internet an unrivaled space for free speech, civic participation, innovation and opportunity. Net Neutrality prohibits online discrimination and gives any individual, organization or company the same chance to share their ideas and find an audience.
The Fight’s Not Over
Companies like Comcast and Verizon aren’t used to losing in Washington, and they’ll do everything they can to knock down the FCC's rules. Our message is clear: Mess with the internet and you’ll lose.
What Can We Do About All This?
Millions of people pushed the FCC to protect real Net Neutrality and block the Comcast merger. We need to do everything we can to ensure the open internet continues to thrive as a space shared and shaped by its millions of users.
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TIMELINE of the NET NEUTRALITY FIGHT
Jan. 14, 2014:
A federal court strikes down the FCC’s 2010 Open Internet Order.
April 19:
The FCC’s new proposal is leaked — and public interest in Net Neutrality soars.
May 15:
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler officially proposes his flawed rules. Hundreds of people converge outside the FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. and rallies break out in cities across the U.S.
July 15:
On the day initial public comments on the FCC’s proposal are due, the agency’s servers crash thanks to the heavy traffic. Within a few short hours Free Press and allies mobilize to hand-deliver hundreds of thousands of comments. The agency makes the unprecedented move of extending its deadline by three days.
July-August:
The SUMMER TO SAVE THE INTERNET: Activists participate in dozens upon dozens of in-district meetings with congressional offices, rally outside fundraisers President Obama attends in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and file comments in record numbers at the FCC in favor of real Net Neutrality.
Sept. 10:
The Internet Slowdown. On Sept. 10, hundreds of organizations and online companies — including Netflix, Kickstarter, Etsy and Tumblr — display a spinning icon representing a slow-loading Internet on their websites. This massive day of action drives 2 million emails and nearly 300,000 calls to Congress, and 777,364 people file comments with the FCC.
Sept. 15:
The period for public reply comments closes. A record-breaking 3.7 million people have filed comments — and most support real Net Neutrality. Big rallies are held in New York City and Philadelphia.
Oct. 21
Activists rally in College Station, Texas, and pack a hearing convened by FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, a Net Neutrality foe.
Oct. 27
Free Press and allies organize a big speakout in New York City to highlight the voices of the communities the FCC's decision will most impact.
Oct. 30
The Wall Street Journal reports on new rules under consideration — rules that would still allow slow lanes online. A huge backlash follows in the press and among public interest groups.
Nov. 10
President Obama releases a video statement urging the FCC to reclassify broadband under Title II.
Jan. 7, 2015
Chairman Wheeler signals that he will likely base new Net Neutrality rules on Title II. He announces that a vote on these rules will take place on Feb. 26.
Feb. 4, 2015
Chairman Wheeler confirms that his new rules use Title II to give Internet users the strongest protections possible.
Feb. 26, 2015
Victory! The FCC approves Title II-based rules that ban blocking, throttling and paid prioritization online.
May 13, 2015
Free Press files a legal motion to intervene in the industry-backed court case challenging the FCC's Net Neutrality rules.
Sept. 21, 2015
Free Press files a joint legal brief to defend the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules.
June 14, 2016
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected an industry challenge and upheld the FCC's Open Internet Order in all respects, stating that the agency exercised its proper authority when it reclassified broadband internet access as a telecom service under Title II of the Communications Act.
Join Us
Our rights to connect and communicate — via universally accessible, open, affordable and fast communications networks and devices — are essential to our individual, economic and political freedoms.
The internet is the foremost battleground for free speech in the 21st century, and protecting our internet freedom is essential to safeguarding our rights to speak and assemble in private.
Together we’re building the movement we need to protect our rights to connect and communicate.
