created by spez on 14/12/2017 at 17:10 UTC*
194102 upvotes, 134 top-level comments (showing 25)
Following today’s disappointing vote from the FCC, Alexis and I wanted to take the time to thank redditors for your incredible activism on this issue, and reassure you that we’re going to continue fighting for the free and open internet.
Over the past few months, we have been floored by the energy and creativity redditors have displayed in the effort to save net neutrality. It was inspiring to witness organic takeovers[1] of the front page (twice), read touching stories[2] about how net neutrality matters in users’ everyday lives, see bills about net neutrality discussed on the front page[3] (with over 100,000 upvotes and cross-posts to over 100 communities), and watch redditors exercise their voices as citizens in the hundreds of thousands of calls[4] they drove to Congress.
=> 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/7j8fkt/an_analysis_of_net_neutrality_activism_on_reddit/ | 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/6mtgtp/we_need_your_voice_as_we_continue_the_fight_for/ | 3: https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/7j6kn4/congress_has_set_out_a_bill_to_stop_the_fcc/ | 4: https://thenextweb.com/insider/2017/11/22/reddit-net-neutrality-fcc-protest/
It is disappointing that the FCC Chairman plowed ahead with his planned repeal despite all of this public concern[5], not to mention the objections expressed by his fellow commissioners[6], the FCC’s own CTO[7], more than a hundred members of Congress[8], dozens of senators, and the very builders of the modern internet[9].
=> 5: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/12/12/this-poll-gave-americans-a-detailed-case-for-and-against-the-fccs-net-neutrality-plan-the-reaction-among-republicans-was-striking/?hpid=hp_hp-cards_hp-card-technology%3Ahomepage%2Fcard&utm_term=.d11780a12cc2 | 6: https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/12/16766324/fcc-commissioners-clyburn-rosenworcel-net-neutrality | 7: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/13/net-neutrality-repeal-warning-eric-burger-fcc-259968 | 8: https://doyle.house.gov/sites/doyle.house.gov/files/documents/20171213DoyleNDelayLtrAll.pdf | 9: https://www.salon.com/2017/12/12/senators-internet-pioneers-pen-letters-to-fcc-asking-to-cancel-thursdays-net-neutrality-vote/
Nevertheless, today’s vote is the beginning, not the end. While the fight to preserve net neutrality is going to be longer than we had hoped, this is far from over.
Many of you have asked what comes next. We don’t exactly know yet, but it seems likely that the FCC’s decision will be challenged in court soon, and we would be supportive of that challenge. It’s also possible that Congress can decide to take up the cause and create strong, enforceable net neutrality rules that aren’t subject to the political winds at the FCC. Nevertheless, this will be a complex process that takes time.
What is certain is that Reddit will continue to be involved in this issue in the way that we know best: seeking out every opportunity to amplify your voices and share them with those who have the power to make a difference.
This isn’t the outcome we wanted, but you should all be proud of the awareness you’ve created. Those who thought that they’d be able to quietly repeal net neutrality without anyone noticing or caring learned a thing or two, and we still may come out on top of this yet. We’ll keep you informed as things develop.
u/arabscarab (Jessica, our head of policy) will also be in the comments to address your questions.
—u/spez & u/kn0thing
update: Please note the FCC is not united in this decision and find the dissenting statements from commissioners Clyburn and Rosenworcel[10].
update2 (9:55AM pst): While the vote has not technically happened, we decided to post after the two dissenting commissioners released their statements. However, the actual vote appears to be delayed for security reasons. We hope everyone is safe.
update3 (10:13AM pst): The FCC votes to repeal 3–2.
=> Comment by I-aint-never at 14/12/2017 at 17:54 UTC
1697 upvotes, 6 direct replies
Does democracy and public outcry mean nothing anymore?
95% of unique comments made to the FCC were in support of Net neutrality and 25 million total comments were sent!
Not once did the FCC even offer to have a public hearing to discuss Net Neutrality but rather they shut their doors and laughed at our comments. They outright mocked us in an attempt to make our opinions less important and to make our outcry seem like the work of trolls.
There is still more we can do. We need Congress to step up and to create their own laws protecting Net Neutrality so make your voiced heard Reddit and fuck the FCC.
=> Comment by [deleted] at 14/12/2017 at 17:14 UTC
5063 upvotes, 8 direct replies
The fact that Ajit Pai made a video mocking us shows how little they care. We haven't made enough of an impact so we need to keep going!
=> Comment by RodneyNYC at 14/12/2017 at 17:31 UTC
2101 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Just because the FCC has gone against the wishes of the country it is supposed to be serving, this does not mean we should stop fighting for net neutrality!
Don't let this be a defeat; let this be further motivation to make your voice heard even more and to keep going in your efforts until we get net neutrality established as a law!
=> Comment by ElJraldo at 14/12/2017 at 17:16 UTC
1216 upvotes, 3 direct replies
This dude talking just said "hopefully Congress makes a set of rules preventing payed priority for businesses" THEN WHATS THE FUCKING POINT OF REPEALING IT DIPSHIT
=> Comment by SCBeauty at 14/12/2017 at 17:23 UTC*
2417 upvotes, 6 direct replies
Mignon Clyburn is my hero today. Her speech was so powerful. She listened to us; it's too bad no one is listening to her.
ETA: I'm so proud that this is my most upvoted comment. Thanks, everyone. ☺
=> Comment by boopboopadoopity at 14/12/2017 at 17:23 UTC
686 upvotes, 2 direct replies
The fact that the FCC is choosing to do this really saddens me. Thank you for fighting so hard for net neutrality Reddit.
=> Comment by Jorycle at 14/12/2017 at 17:27 UTC*
2775 upvotes, 6 direct replies
Make sure you guys remember that while some congressmen sent a letter of support for net neutrality, more than 100 members of the House sent a letter supporting Ajit Pai. Do not under any circumstances let them forget that they ignored the will of the people, and support their opponents in the 2018 elections - even if that means you have to vote for someone from a party you hate because your district has no one from the party you prefer.
Here's the letter supporting Ajit Pai. See if your rep signed it.
=> https://energycommerce.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/121317-FCC-Net-Neutrality.pdf
=> Comment by JPTIII at 14/12/2017 at 17:59 UTC*
2373 upvotes, 3 direct replies
The organizations behind Battle For The Net[1] are launching a new campaign to demand that Congress step in and restore net neutrality via Congressional Review Act[2] (CRA).
=> 1: https://www.battleforthenet.com/ | 2: https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R43992.html
The CRA let’s our elected officials in Congress overrule actions taken by Federal agencies like the FCC. And it’s different from a normal bill because it only requires a simple majority in the Senate and House to pass. Given the level of public backlash and polls showing that 83% of voters from across the political spectrum oppose the FCC’s plan, and given that several Republicans have already started to publicly criticize the FCC vote, we have a real chance to making this happen. But it won’t be easy, and it can only happen within 60 legislative days of the order going into effect.
=> 3: https://www.battleforthenet.com/
You’ll see a script on your screen, or you can say something like this:
I support Title II net neutrality, and I urge you to use the Congressional Review Act to pass a “resolution of disapproval” reversing the FCC’s December vote to repeal the Open Internet Order.”
=> Comment by CrazyAsian at 14/12/2017 at 18:54 UTC
684 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I posted this elsewhere, but I feel like copying it here.
The death of Net Neutrality will not affect you overnight like most places are reporting. You won't pay $10 for Facebook, $5 for streaming sites, etc... or things like that. You won't have access to certain sites blocked.
Rather, it will happen slowly and secretly over the next few years, which is arguably worse. You'll notice Netflix and Twitch will start buffering more and more while your ISP sends you a mailer to buy their cable/movie package. Your VoIP will drop calls while your ISP promotes a competitor at a "special" price. Independent online games will struggle to have reliable pings while AAA games seem to have no problem.
How do we know this will happen? Because ISPs have already tried this in the past when the legality was unclear. Now that it's fully legal, what will stop them?
In the meantime, you'll forget. When they don't charge $3 for access to Netflix, you'll think to yourself that the whole #NetNeutrality cause was overblown. You won't notice the gradual decline of your ISP, and you'll forget what you once expected of them. The ISPs will win unless we continue to fight, but I find it hard to believe that we can maintain this anger for so much longer.
ISPs have done this before. And repealing Net Neutrality only enables them more.
=> Comment by [deleted] at 14/12/2017 at 18:06 UTC
760 upvotes, 3 direct replies
The vote is going to be disappointing but we know this isn’t the end.
-This will immediately get into a court battle and I think it looks favorable to us. Pai has been so flagerant on ignoring the people that’ll be a factor. That and, more importantly, he has outright ignored several Attorney Generals on the matter of the fake comments on his own site. I have to imagine that is going to play a MAJOR rule in court. Also, one of the dissenters in Michael O’Reilly bluntly stated they were never going to consider those comments anyways whether they were “bots or not”. Might be a big factor in the courts as well.
-We gotta keep pestering our reps. We’ve seen that a few GOP members have flip flopped in favor of NN. The more we keep expressing our disgust in this the more likely they could pass something in Congress. We’ve done it before with the healthcare repeal and we can do it here.
I just don’t want people to give up or have a defeatist attitude on this. Yes, it does suck the vote will go the way we don’t want it. But the fact of the matter is that it isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
=> Comment by [deleted] at 14/12/2017 at 18:09 UTC
413 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Seeing the video Ajit Pai made, basically mocking Internet users, made me incredibly mad.
It's clear he thinks that those of us who were fighting against him are basically mindless idiots who only use the most basic things the Internet offers. People like him are what's wrong with this world. So much greed, and ego. Looking down on the "Little guys".
He fails to mention that we'll still be able to do all these things relatively free of charge. We all know that the things that were so simple to do at one point, are suddenly going to become more difficult as companies put things behind pay walls.
I hope this doesn't last very long, that somehow, some way, it gets overturned. I just know the second companies see that extra $$$ rolling in from us, a lot more are going to follow and it will become the new norm.
=> Comment by KhaosJunkie at 14/12/2017 at 17:16 UTC
1024 upvotes, 2 direct replies
KEEP PUSHING THIS ISSUE! Courts can help. Actual laws enacted by congress can help. The FCC isn't all powerful. Keep fighting!!!
=> Comment by evanFFTF at 14/12/2017 at 18:00 UTC
305 upvotes, 1 direct replies
There is an immediate plan to overturn the FCC vote. The organizations behind BattleForTheNet.com[1] are calling on Congress to use a Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review act to nullify their decision. It only takes a simple majority in the House and Senate. We can do it. Call your reps now![2]
=> 1: https://www.battleforthenet.com | 2: https://www.battleforthenet.com
=> Comment by Jung_Monet at 14/12/2017 at 17:29 UTC
191 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I love how the one guy said they didn't care about the comments, but then said if you wanted to express your opinion to write a comment.
=> Comment by Shalune at 14/12/2017 at 18:11 UTC*
2961 upvotes, 5 direct replies
Don't get discouraged.
The flood of protests received by the FCC and our representatives act as a record of where we, as a people stand.
People that, in spite of his eggregious actions, Pai claims to represent. Even though they are blatantly false, his justifications for this action are worded as though it is on our behalf.
Now we have an overwhelming record that this is not what we want, and it is not in our best interest. And he's going to do it anyway.
This is important. It may be the key to undoing this, and holding Pai responsible.
In the realm of law, and government it is near impossible to objectively prove a policy good or bad. It's far easier to show a failure to follow proper procedure, or contradiction of one's duty, and own stated intentions. These latter faults are where we've irrefutably shown Pai has crossed the line.
There's already signs that this may be the area of focus in fighting back, in conjuction with the FCC not addressing its previous flood of fraudulent comments.
Note the language, in the official objections below about the legitimacy of the process, the scope of the FCC's reach, and the dubious motives of those involved.
=> https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-opposes-fcc-net-neutrality-vote-tomorrow
=> https://www.wired.com/story/fcc-must-investigate-fraud-before-voting-on-net-neutrality/
=> https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/941075828049416192
Take heart in these public servants that stand with us, along with 18 US AGs, and many more.
They are fighting the good fight to win the war, not the battle.
It can feel like we're screaming into the void. But we have given those that can fight this a great tool: a public record demonstrating that Pai and the FCC are acting against our interests, against their oaths, and against their own words.
EDIT: fixed broken link to Senator Warren's post + speech. Thanks u/preppypoof for pointing it out.
=> Comment by baltinerdist at 14/12/2017 at 19:14 UTC
4860 upvotes, 2 direct replies
u/spez, u/arabscarab, u/kn0thing:
If a Comcast or Verizon or whoever approaches reddit and says they're basically putting together a "Social Media Elite Pro MegaAccess" package that gives you a different level of access (non-throttled or maybe even priority traffic) to your website, are you willing to sign that deal?
The users are going to get the short end of this stick but the long end still reaches out to the sites that are cordoned off by un-neutral net.
=> Comment by vwtsi1-8 at 14/12/2017 at 17:17 UTC*
4681 upvotes, 11 direct replies
The three FCC votes to repeal are disgusting. Just no shame to their bribe taking. The current guy talking and trying to justify the repeal is just filled with contradictions and lies.
Damn it's sickening to know this level of corruption can happen openly in 2017.
Edit : The major argument for repealing seems to be "let's go back to bipartisan and how the Internet flourished before 2015. Things were fiiiiine then and I'm sure the telecoms won't try to screw people in the future if we go back to the way it was!" It's complete crock. The law was a reaction to recognizing a vulnerability in the system which could screw the consumers. It was the government protecting the rights of the people against corporations. Difficult to imagine, I know.
Edit 2 : Listening to Pai now. Infuriating. The second big argument is roughly similar to trickle down economics. "Companies can't be competitive if we regulate them! They won't be able to make any money and invest! If we just let them be I'm sure they will pay workers well and create lots of jobs! They won't abuse their power to throttle like they have in the past! " Yeah. Sure.
Edit 3 : The 3 aye's take it. Pai congratulates everyone for their eeeexcellent work.
Edit 4 : Mignon Clyburn was super. She had some really great points and it seems like the issue won't end today. Nice to see all the links in this thread on ways for people to voice their opinions.
Lol the potato guy pretty much just said thnx get the camera away hehe don't zoom in on my fat wallet please.
=> Comment by Deathlighter182 at 14/12/2017 at 17:32 UTC
729 upvotes, 2 direct replies
This is absolutely mind-boggling to me. The malicious lies, the no shame bullshitting on how the repeal is not going to matter or even, it is going to make it even better and freer - this is just insane to me.
It's like the government would just one day decide "hey you know how we put people who kill others in prison? yeah that's because of old laws and it's not needed anyway, in fact, people are going to murder less when we take away this archaic and needless restriction"
And the way they spin it. The way they say it - that they are for internet freedom. Fucking sickens me. Disgusting, corrupted, spineless people.
=> Comment by llahlahkje at 14/12/2017 at 17:51 UTC*
6539 upvotes, 10 direct replies
Well, they did it, despite the fact a majority of voters in either party oppose it. Something akin to 80+% of the population opposes it on the whole.
They didn't care. They won't start caring.
Petitions were faked, identities stolen to do so. New York found over 2 million identities to have been stolen to fake anti-Net Neutrality comments... but they didn't halt the vote. The FCC refused to cooperate in New York's investigation.
No amount of petitions, phone calls, emails, letters, etc... got through to the GOP. It's not going to start working now. The only things you can do, now, are vote the people who let this happen out of office and take the ISPs to the courts when applicable.
=> It is worth noting: This has been a partisan issue with the GOP siding against net neutrality.
Mark this and vote accordingly.
The GOP is in the majority in the FCC and the FCC Commissioners' votes were down party lines. Remember their disregard of the public trust in 2018, remember it in 2020.
It can be undone -- the Telecom companies will try their best to profiteer in the interim knowing full well that their time is limited. Take them to task legally whenever they overstep their bounds and hold free speech hostage for more money.
Remember this breach of Democracy, this betrayal of the over 80% of Americans who did not want this.
VOTE... THEM... OUT.
=> Comment by kalez238 at 14/12/2017 at 18:33 UTC
155 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Commissioner Clyburn gave an amazing heartfelt eulogy in favor of Net Neutrality ... at which Ajit replied "So, that's a no" and everyone laughed.
What a heartless corporate shill.
Ajit said "Let consumers decide who prevails," but most consumers only have 1 option. Of course they are going to choose the only internet they can get. And the consumers did decide. They sent millions of comments online telling the FCC "No", but Adjit and his cronies just ignored all of us.
=> Comment by leejoness at 14/12/2017 at 18:32 UTC
150 upvotes, 1 direct replies
When was the last time 83% of the American people agreed on anything? I don’t even think 83% of population would agree that oxygen is important. So, as a giant middle finger to those 83% they plowed through any sort of protest or phone call or letter or email just to shove this up our collective butts.
Politicians and bureaucrats are the worst people in the world and if we let them fuck everything up then by god they will fuck everything up.
=> Comment by Gayfetus at 14/12/2017 at 18:08 UTC*
386 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If you can and are willing, consider visiting your House Rep.'s office: An in-person visit and conversation will leave a deeper impression on the legislator's staff. The offices are open to the general public and anybody can come in during their work hours, no appointment needed. You're not likely to get to speak to the legislator themself, but their staffers, especially if you ask for and get their legislative director, help shape a legislator's world view and actions, and our goal is to let them know their constituents care deeply about net neutrality. You'll find that the people at the office will be very nice to you and not at all antagonistic, after all, they want your support! You may also find that your Rep. has an office conveniently near you or your commute!
Some additional tips:
When talking to a congressional office, there are 3 key pieces of info you want to make sure you get across (the ones with decent staff will ask you for the info, but some of them slack): Your name+your address (so they know you're an individual in their district), the issue you care about and which side of it you're on.
In addition to talking to the staffers, every congressional office I've been to (and I've been to lots) will have a form you can fill out where you can write down your concerns. Be sure to ask for the form and write down your support for net neutrality!
Congressional offices are almost always open 9-5, weekdays.
The truism "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" applies. Our goal here is to squeak loudly for net neutrality, and if possible, squeak in person!
=> Comment by [deleted] at 14/12/2017 at 17:32 UTC*
409 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[deleted]
=> Comment by AmphibiousAce at 14/12/2017 at 17:21 UTC
192 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Ajit Pai’s face is too perfect to not be featured in Southpark
=> Comment by duodsg at 14/12/2017 at 17:50 UTC*
351 upvotes, 4 direct replies
"On the advice of security, we're going to take a brief recess".
=> https://www.fcc.gov/general/live
Ok that sounds like someone either broke into the building, bomb threat, etc. Right in the middle of Pai's remarks. MAN this is getting THRILLING!
Knowing how shady the FCC has been recently, I wouldn't be surprised if this was Ajit's idea to "delay the vote" while trying to save face and still blame NN protesters as being at fault/being violent/"they're evil since they tried to stop the vote, so that means we're doing a good thing. We can't let terror win!"
text/geminiThis content has been proxied by September (ba2dc).