Press Release
Net Neutrality Back in the Spotlight
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Backed by growing support on Capitol Hill and at the grassroots, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition marked its first anniversary today by renewing its call to make Net Neutrality the law of the land. The campaign was praised by leaders in Washington, who pledged to carry on the fight for Internet freedom in the halls of Congress.
"The Internet became a robust engine of economic development by enabling anyone with a good idea to connect to consumers and compete on a level playing field," said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who has introduced the bipartisan "Internet Freedom Preservation Act" with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). "The marketplace picked winners and losers, not some central gatekeeper. That freedom -- the very core of what makes the Internet what it is today -- must be preserved."
"Sixteen months ago, when I began to fight to keep the Internet free of discrimination for consumers and businesses, it was a pretty lonely battle," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. "With the SavetheInternet.com Coalition, I now fight alongside almost 2 million people and some great congressional partners, battling to preserve Net Neutrality. SavetheInternet.com's presence has helped turn the tide in this critical debate."
"Saving the Internet is vital for civic involvement, entrepreneurial activity, communications and free speech," said Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. "On the anniversary of this grassroots effort, I welcome the renewed and growing support shown for common-sense protections for freedom on the Internet and am eager to battle to put such protections on the books this Congress."
Senator Dorgan will speak on a conference call briefing for reporters today at 12:15 p.m. ET along with Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist; Columbia Law School Professor Tim Wu; New Mexico small businessman Gary Maricle; the Christian Coalition's Michele Combs; and Adam Green of MoveOn.org Civic Action.
Listen to the call here.
The SavetheInternet.com Coalition is an historic grassroots alliance of hundreds of groups from across the political spectrum, thousands of bloggers, and millions of everyday people concerned about the future of the Internet. The coalition came together last year when Congress first took up dangerous telecom legislation that failed to protect Net Neutrality, which has been called the Internet's First Amendment.
"I think SavetheInternet.com's success surprised everyone, especially those who thought the public was way too uninterested in issues like 'Net Neutrality' to give a damn," said Tim Wu, a leading Internet scholar who first coined the term Net Neutrality -- the fundamental Internet principle that prevents big phone and cable companies from discriminating against Web sites and services.
After leading the effort to stop telecommunications legislation last year that would have handed phone and cable companies unprecedented gatekeeper power over what Internet users see and do online, SavetheInternet.com is ramping up its campaign to reinstate Net Neutrality this year.
"The SavetheInternet.com coalition succeeded beyond expectations last year in bringing to the public and to politicians the vision of how a free and open Internet can be of benefit to all," said Gigi B. Sohn, founder and president of Public Knowledge. "The contrast could not be more stark between an organization of dedicated grassroots activists and public-interest organizations on one side and the entrenched incumbents on the other. We look forward to moving ahead this year on a comprehensive telecommunications policy that will result not only in an Internet based on Net Neutrality, but in making high-speed Internet service more affordable and available across the country."
While phone and cable companies spent millions and millions on inside-the-Beltway advertising and Astroturf groups, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition -- which takes no corporate money -- kick-started a public conversation about what the future of the Internet should look like. Word spread thanks to local organizers, bloggers of all stripes, and Internet auteurs, who made dozens of viral videos about the looming threat to Internet freedom.
"When I first talked about Net Neutrality and its importance, I often faced a wall of skepticism -- even among longtime activists who felt that the phone lobby was simply too strong," said Mitchell Szczepanczyk of Chicago Media Action. "But in relatively short order, thanks largely to the creativity and efforts of grassroots producers and organizers around America, the issue gained considerable ground in public awareness and in policy circles. I count myself fortunate to be a part of these efforts."
In just the past few weeks, local SavetheInternet.com Coalition activists have attended more than 40 "in-district" meetings with their members of Congress. From Shoreline, Wash. to Palm Harbor, Fla., Providence, R.I., to Bakersfield, Calif., hundreds of activists urged their elected officials to support Net Neutrality in the 110th Congress. Several new members pledged to support Net Neutrality legislation when it came to a vote in Congress.
"It's amazing how quickly citizens have organized around Net Neutrality," said Amina Fazlullah, staff attorney for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "The opposition has tried to make Internet Freedom sound technical and confusing, but the message of a fair and free Internet is clear. Americans are demanding safeguards for today's democratic Internet."
In the weeks ahead, the coalition will be encouraging its members not only to keep the pressure on Congress, but to make their voices heard by filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission, which recently started an official inquiry into the issue. At the same time, state legislatures and city councils are considering resolutions in support of the issue. And Net Neutrality has been highlighted by many major candidates running for president.
"What we've seen over the last year with the SavetheInternet.com Coalition is nothing short of a grassroots Internet revolution – and that revolution will continue this year until Congress re-instates Net Neutrality into law," said Adam Green of MoveOn.org Civic Action. "Through solid grassroots activism, millions of Internet users derailed a bill that would let companies like AT&T and Verizon dictate what Web sites you can access on your computer."
The SavetheInternet.com Web site has been nominated for two prestigious "Webby Awards." Webby judges nominated SavetheInternet.com for "Best Activism Web Site" and "Best Public Service Video." Public voting closes Friday, and the winners will be announced in early May. In the weeks ahead, the newly redesigned pages will feature new videos, action items and campaign updates.
"A year ago, all the so-called experts said we would never win anything," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press, which coordinates the SavetheInternet.com Coalition. "They said millions of people would never care about an issue called Net Neutrality. They said we had no chance of stopping phone and cable companies with their deep pockets and armies of lobbyists. We proved them wrong. And we'll prove them wrong again. This has been an exciting year, but we won't rest until we've done all we can to bring neutral, faster, affordable Internet to everyone."
Click here for more information on the Webby Awards
Learn more about SavetheInternet.com's grassroots efforts here -- and here
For regular updates, please visit www.SavetheInternet.com
"The Internet became a robust engine of economic development by enabling anyone with a good idea to connect to consumers and compete on a level playing field," said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who has introduced the bipartisan "Internet Freedom Preservation Act" with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). "The marketplace picked winners and losers, not some central gatekeeper. That freedom -- the very core of what makes the Internet what it is today -- must be preserved."
"Sixteen months ago, when I began to fight to keep the Internet free of discrimination for consumers and businesses, it was a pretty lonely battle," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. "With the SavetheInternet.com Coalition, I now fight alongside almost 2 million people and some great congressional partners, battling to preserve Net Neutrality. SavetheInternet.com's presence has helped turn the tide in this critical debate."
"Saving the Internet is vital for civic involvement, entrepreneurial activity, communications and free speech," said Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. "On the anniversary of this grassroots effort, I welcome the renewed and growing support shown for common-sense protections for freedom on the Internet and am eager to battle to put such protections on the books this Congress."
Senator Dorgan will speak on a conference call briefing for reporters today at 12:15 p.m. ET along with Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist; Columbia Law School Professor Tim Wu; New Mexico small businessman Gary Maricle; the Christian Coalition's Michele Combs; and Adam Green of MoveOn.org Civic Action.
Listen to the call here.
The SavetheInternet.com Coalition is an historic grassroots alliance of hundreds of groups from across the political spectrum, thousands of bloggers, and millions of everyday people concerned about the future of the Internet. The coalition came together last year when Congress first took up dangerous telecom legislation that failed to protect Net Neutrality, which has been called the Internet's First Amendment.
"I think SavetheInternet.com's success surprised everyone, especially those who thought the public was way too uninterested in issues like 'Net Neutrality' to give a damn," said Tim Wu, a leading Internet scholar who first coined the term Net Neutrality -- the fundamental Internet principle that prevents big phone and cable companies from discriminating against Web sites and services.
After leading the effort to stop telecommunications legislation last year that would have handed phone and cable companies unprecedented gatekeeper power over what Internet users see and do online, SavetheInternet.com is ramping up its campaign to reinstate Net Neutrality this year.
"The SavetheInternet.com coalition succeeded beyond expectations last year in bringing to the public and to politicians the vision of how a free and open Internet can be of benefit to all," said Gigi B. Sohn, founder and president of Public Knowledge. "The contrast could not be more stark between an organization of dedicated grassroots activists and public-interest organizations on one side and the entrenched incumbents on the other. We look forward to moving ahead this year on a comprehensive telecommunications policy that will result not only in an Internet based on Net Neutrality, but in making high-speed Internet service more affordable and available across the country."
While phone and cable companies spent millions and millions on inside-the-Beltway advertising and Astroturf groups, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition -- which takes no corporate money -- kick-started a public conversation about what the future of the Internet should look like. Word spread thanks to local organizers, bloggers of all stripes, and Internet auteurs, who made dozens of viral videos about the looming threat to Internet freedom.
"When I first talked about Net Neutrality and its importance, I often faced a wall of skepticism -- even among longtime activists who felt that the phone lobby was simply too strong," said Mitchell Szczepanczyk of Chicago Media Action. "But in relatively short order, thanks largely to the creativity and efforts of grassroots producers and organizers around America, the issue gained considerable ground in public awareness and in policy circles. I count myself fortunate to be a part of these efforts."
In just the past few weeks, local SavetheInternet.com Coalition activists have attended more than 40 "in-district" meetings with their members of Congress. From Shoreline, Wash. to Palm Harbor, Fla., Providence, R.I., to Bakersfield, Calif., hundreds of activists urged their elected officials to support Net Neutrality in the 110th Congress. Several new members pledged to support Net Neutrality legislation when it came to a vote in Congress.
"It's amazing how quickly citizens have organized around Net Neutrality," said Amina Fazlullah, staff attorney for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "The opposition has tried to make Internet Freedom sound technical and confusing, but the message of a fair and free Internet is clear. Americans are demanding safeguards for today's democratic Internet."
In the weeks ahead, the coalition will be encouraging its members not only to keep the pressure on Congress, but to make their voices heard by filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission, which recently started an official inquiry into the issue. At the same time, state legislatures and city councils are considering resolutions in support of the issue. And Net Neutrality has been highlighted by many major candidates running for president.
"What we've seen over the last year with the SavetheInternet.com Coalition is nothing short of a grassroots Internet revolution – and that revolution will continue this year until Congress re-instates Net Neutrality into law," said Adam Green of MoveOn.org Civic Action. "Through solid grassroots activism, millions of Internet users derailed a bill that would let companies like AT&T and Verizon dictate what Web sites you can access on your computer."
The SavetheInternet.com Web site has been nominated for two prestigious "Webby Awards." Webby judges nominated SavetheInternet.com for "Best Activism Web Site" and "Best Public Service Video." Public voting closes Friday, and the winners will be announced in early May. In the weeks ahead, the newly redesigned pages will feature new videos, action items and campaign updates.
"A year ago, all the so-called experts said we would never win anything," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press, which coordinates the SavetheInternet.com Coalition. "They said millions of people would never care about an issue called Net Neutrality. They said we had no chance of stopping phone and cable companies with their deep pockets and armies of lobbyists. We proved them wrong. And we'll prove them wrong again. This has been an exciting year, but we won't rest until we've done all we can to bring neutral, faster, affordable Internet to everyone."
Click here for more information on the Webby Awards
Learn more about SavetheInternet.com's grassroots efforts here -- and here
For regular updates, please visit www.SavetheInternet.com
