Via James Rucker at ColorOfChange.org
Dear Daniel,
The FCC just took a major step towards keeping the Internet free and open — and it couldn't have happened without you.
On Monday, The Washington Post reported that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski was on the verge of declining to reassert the FCC's authority to regulate the Internet.1 It would have had far-reaching consequences, leaving the FCC unable to protect consumers from the worst broadband industry abuses and unable to do its part to help close the digital divide.
Before Monday's announcement, more than 53,000 of you had sent letters to the FCC demanding a free and open Internet. And when we shared Monday's frightening news, more than 500 of you took the time to call the White House, urging President Obama to fulfill his promise to be "second to no one" in fighting for network neutrality.
When the smoke cleared, your voices made a difference. Genachowski reversed course, announcing on Thursday that the FCC would reassert its authority to enact limited regulation of broadband in order to promote the basic goals of keeping the Internet free and open and promoting universal Internet access.2
It's a huge victory for all of us. We should take the time to celebrate our accomplishment, but know that the fight isn't over.
Over the next few months, you can be sure that AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon will turn up the heat, pulling out all the stops to pressure Genachowski to reverse his decision and derail net neutrality.3 It will take all of us speaking out together to stop them. We will do what we can to keep you informed and to give you ways to continue to make a difference.
In the meantime, thank you. It's because of you and your efforts that we're proud to do this work. And it's because of you that the FCC, at least for the moment, is on the right track.
Thanks and Peace,
-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Milton and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
May 9, 2010
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References:
1. "FCC Chairman Genachowski expected to leave broadband services deregulated," The Washington Post, 5-3-2010
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/227?akid=1446.141398.UZVbxh&t=3
2."FCC reasserts its power to regulate Internet providers," The Boston Globe, 5-7-2010
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/225?akid=1446.141398.UZVbxh&t=5
3. "ISPs sound ready to sue over FCC's Third Way," Ars Technica, 5-7-2010
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/226?akid=1446.141398.UZVbxh&t=7
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