Time To Be A Net Neutrality Hero (again)

The field dodged a bullet in 2015 when net neutrality was threatened but it’s on the chopping block once again. To avoid the latest round of danger, you need to do the heroic thing by contacting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to let them know how why expect them to protect net neutrality.

The new FCC chair, Ajit Varadaraj Pai, would like to gut those rules and allow ISPs to charge users tiered fees for so-called “fast lane” traffic; those who pay get their content delivered at speeds you’re currently accustomed to experiencing. Those who don’t, see their sites slow to a crawl at a newly defined “baseline level of service.”

The reason why net neutrality matters are if the planned changes go into effect, arts organizations can expect to see their website pages load slower, which means fewer conversions, fewer tickets sold, and lower revenue.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver recently examined this latest threat so if you enjoy being entertained while you learn about otherwise dry sounding topics, take the time to watch the video at the end of this post. You should also take advantage of a service Oliver’s show launched to make the feedback process much easier for you in the form of a simple URL: gofccyourself.com (getting to the form on your own is possible, but it’s designed to be deliberately frustrating).

Once there, you need to select the “+ Express” link located toward the top, right hand side of the screen.

From there, you can complete the form and include your message. Please feel free to use the following template as-is or edit as desired.

I’m writing to urge the FCC to scrap its plan to allow Internet Service Providers to charge for preferential treatment. These rules would destroy net neutrality. I urge the commission to throw out any such plans and instead reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service. I also urge the commission not to reclassify it under Title I of the Communications Act of 1934. This is the only way to maintain real net neutrality.

Postscript: in case you think ISPs don’t see this recent effort as their best bet in years to destroy net neutrality, take the time to read this article at zdnet.com by Zack Whittaker about efforts from anti-net neutrality groups to crash the FCC’s feedback form. h/t Anthony Detrano; arts administrator extraordinaire!