TODAY: New York Leaders Join Public Hearing on Net Neutrality and the Comcast Merger

NEW YORK — The fight to save Net Neutrality and stop the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger is coming to Brooklyn on Mon., Oct. 27. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, New York City Mayoral Counsel Maya Wiley and former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps will join others in a public discussion about our rights to connect and communicate. The hearing will occur against the backdrop of two pending FCC decisions that could harm the open Internet.

Thousands of people have urged the FCC to get out of Washington, D.C., and hold public hearings on Net Neutrality and the Comcast merger, but Chairman Tom Wheeler has ignored this call. Common Cause, Consumers Union, Daily Kos, Demand Progress, Free Press and the Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) are hosting this event, which will give New Yorkers the chance to speak out. All public comments delivered at Monday’s hearing will be submitted into the public record at the FCC.

“FCC Chairman Wheeler has gone into hiding in Washington, avoiding any public exchange on these critically important issues,” said Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron. “Millions of people have called on Wheeler to enact real Net Neutrality protections and reject the Comcast merger. It's time he came out into public view and attended open hearings like these to hear the views of everyday Internet users — not just those of the phone and cable lobbyists that dominate Washington."

Since the FCC’s open Internet proceeding began earlier this year, a record-breaking 3.7 million Americans have submitted comments to the agency. Nearly all commenters have urged the FCC to use its congressionally granted authority to protect Internet users’ rights and prevent a few powerful phone and cable companies from controlling the future of communications. Similarly, hundreds of thousands of Americans have signed petitions and submitted comments to the FCC urging it to reject the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger.

The hosting organizations are working with local allies to ensure that as many New Yorkers as possible can air their views during the Brooklyn event. Staff members from Common Cause, Consumers Union, Free Press and MAG-Net will be available on site for interviews.

Details:
What: New York Speaks: A Hearing on Our Rights to Connect and Communicate
When: Mon., Oct. 27, from 6–8 p.m. (at 5 p.m. a “cultural speakout” and theater performance will take place on the plaza outside the library)
Where: Dweck Center, Brooklyn Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza
Who: Speakers include Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, New York City Mayoral Counsel Maya Wiley, former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, performer Queen Godis, MAG-Net’s Malkia Cyril, Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron and many more.

If you have any questions, please contact Timothy Karr at 201-533-8838 or via email at tkarr@freepress.net.