FCC Response To Our Emails: “Open” Internet Is Not An “Equal” Internet

FCC Commission Chairman Supports an “Open” Internet but Does he Support an Equal Internet? Does he Support Net Neutrality?

The FCC began sending out responses to the thousands of people who sent an email to Chairman Tom Wheeler from Popular Resistance.

Our emails focused on protecting net neutrality so there would not be discrimination on the Internet — a fast lane for those who could pay for it and a slow lane for everyone else. We know the response we received from Wheeler is somewhat pro forma and brief but Wheeler’s response missed the point and highlighted the conflict in our views. Under his name the following was written:

Thank you very much for contacting us about the ongoing Open Internet proceeding. We’re hoping to hear from as many people as possible about this critical issue, and so I’m very glad that we can include your thoughts and opinions.



I’m a strong supporter of the Open Internet, and I will fight to keep the internet open. Thanks again for sharing your views with me.



Tom Wheeler

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

An Open Internet is not the same as an equal internet with net neutrality. I can get on an open highway and be relegated to the slow lanes, while wealthier people get on the same highway but are allowed to go to the fast lanes. That is an “Open Internet” but it is not the kind of information superhighway we want the Internet to become.

The FCC needs to begin to think of the Internet as a common carrier that has equal open access where everyone gets the same service without discrimination based on financial wealth. The Internet is the place where Freedom of Speech is exercised in the 21st Century. The FCC needs to reject any proposal that does not include net neutrality. It needs to begin by reclassifying the Internet as a telecom service that is a common carrier so that the Internet can be regulated in the public interest, not for the financial benefit of mega-corporations.

Today, we are going to the FCC at 445 12th St., NW and begin ongoing protests at noon and 5 PM each day until May 15th when the FCC holds its Open Internet Meeting . We hope you will join us so we can save the Internet from becoming a class-based, tiered service. Net neutrality is the Free Speech issue of the 21st Century.

If you’d like to send Chairman Tom Wheeler an email write him at Tom.Wheeler@fcc.gov. If you want to call, the FCC’s number is 1-888-225-5322.