Howdy, FOSSers!
The FCC passed the Restoring Internet Freedom proposal, which *repeals* net neutrality rules in a 3-2 vote, to nobody's great surprise.
While the result is disappointing, this is not where net neutrality ends! We need to make a lot of noise and support organizations that are fighting on our behalf. Some 80+% of people support net neutrality so know that popular opinion is on our side.
Where we go from here is uncertain but it's not over. Fights for net neutrality are already gearing up and lawsuits are being filed. The New York Attorney General announced he will sue the FCC, and other organizations will likely follow suit.
*Here's how you can help:* Visit https://www.battleforthenet.com/. They're still in the fight, and they're now gathering support for Congress to overrule the FCC.
Consider donating to the ACLU, EFF, FreePress, and other pro net neutrality organizations.
Write to your government reps about net neutrality (this site helps! https://www.mailmygov.com/) - even if they're on your side. Use ResistBot (text 50409) to fax them. Make sure to make an informed vote in your next election. Don't forget about your local officials!
If you have a municipal network, independent ISP, or mesh network in your community (or infrastructure that could support one of those), help fight for it in your community and get involved if possible.
Make noise! Don't stop talking about net neutrality online and off. Join protests if there's one local to you. The worst thing we can do now is be quiet. We need to make sure that nobody forgets and our elected officials can't ignore us.
*Do it for the Internet we know and love.*
It's worth forwarding this message on to other groups and list-serves that you are a part of. *This is important, it's easy to forget how integral the internet is to our lives these days.*
On Thu, Dec 14, 2017 at 1:47 PM Nate Levesque ngl3477@rit.edu wrote:
Howdy, FOSSers!
The FCC passed the Restoring Internet Freedom proposal, which *repeals* net neutrality rules in a 3-2 vote, to nobody's great surprise.
While the result is disappointing, this is not where net neutrality ends! We need to make a lot of noise and support organizations that are fighting on our behalf. Some 80+% of people support net neutrality so know that popular opinion is on our side.
Where we go from here is uncertain but it's not over. Fights for net neutrality are already gearing up and lawsuits are being filed. The New York Attorney General announced he will sue the FCC, and other organizations will likely follow suit.
*Here's how you can help:* Visit https://www.battleforthenet.com/. They're still in the fight, and they're now gathering support for Congress to overrule the FCC.
Consider donating to the ACLU, EFF, FreePress, and other pro net neutrality organizations.
Write to your government reps about net neutrality (this site helps! https://www.mailmygov.com/) - even if they're on your side. Use ResistBot (text 50409) to fax them. Make sure to make an informed vote in your next election. Don't forget about your local officials!
If you have a municipal network, independent ISP, or mesh network in your community (or infrastructure that could support one of those), help fight for it in your community and get involved if possible.
Make noise! Don't stop talking about net neutrality online and off. Join protests if there's one local to you. The worst thing we can do now is be quiet. We need to make sure that nobody forgets and our elected officials can't ignore us.
*Do it for the Internet we know and love.*
-- Nate Levesque RIT Software Engineering '16
*http://www.natelevesque.com http://www.natelevesque.com* ngl3477@rit.edu _______________________________________________ FOSS @ Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) mailing list -- fossrit@lists.fedorahosted.org To unsubscribe send an email to fossrit-leave@lists.fedorahosted.org
On 12/14/2017 01:47 PM, Nate Levesque wrote:
Write to your government reps about net neutrality (this site helps! https://www.mailmygov.com/) - even if they're on your side. Use ResistBot (text 50409) to fax them. Make sure to make an informed vote in your next election. Don't forget about your local officials!
For many, getting informed on your local elections is difficult, but there are resources to help. Ballotpedia is an invaluable resource, if only to help you get a first foothold.
Please look up the next local election in your district (Ballotpedia helps you look up your district and who your candidates are). See who's running and try to do independent research on platforms, if you have time.
In light of this news, don't lose hope either. Earlier this week, an unprecedented event happened in another election that you may have been following. A tweet I saw worth highlighting:
"In meditation, political elections, relationships, creative pursuits and everything else, the rule is straightforward: If you just remember to *show up*, good things are bound to come of it."
https://twitter.com/ethannichtern/status/940964476656017408
On Thursday, 14 December 2017 13:47:20 EST Nate Levesque wrote:
Some 80+% of people support net neutrality so know that popular opinion is on our side.
This phrase comes across as totally made-up. 80+% of what people?
This is important because you don't need to stay positive more than you need to stay focused and realistic. This is not about the popular opinion, but the opinion of those with deep pockets and economic interest in killing net neutrality. For instance, I can readily tell you that 60% of people are against net neutrality, and by people here I mean the FCC chairs that voted. Turns out they matter more than 80+% of people among my social media friends who support net neutrality.
fossrit@lists.fedorahosted.org
-
David E. Narvaez -
Justin W. Flory -
Nate Levesque -
Solomon Rubin