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Net neutrality represents an important win for democracy
Today, over one year after the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s rules — and after one of the most ferocious advocacy battles in American history — the FCC has formally sided in favor of a neutral Internet.
Net neutrality has proven itself to be a defining point for advocacy in America. Participation in the political process, especially in the more obscure field of administrative procedure, will for generations be defined in the context of the public outcry we’ve all seen on this issue.
That engagement, led by many groups that Sunlight works with – on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of the net neutrality issue – was stunning. Millions submitted comments into a system utterly foreign to them in an effort to make their voices heard. Voices so thunderous, they broke the FCC’s website.
Sunlight’s transition to our new president, Chris Gates, also brought a firmer position on net neutrality, inspired in particular by its impact on civic technology. Plainly speaking, our work building tools for better political engagement fundamentally depends on an Internet without tiers, without last-mile prioritization and without limits.
As Gates explained:
“The Internet is the ultimate form of civic technology. It’s a shared space for civic participation, information sharing, building networks and organizing community. … [P]reserving the Internet’s open architecture is essential to the health of our democracy.”
Congratulations and thanks to all those who won this impressive fight, both for securing an open Internet, and for forever changing the perceived limits on what influence the American people can have when they fight for what they believe in.
The Sunlight Foundation is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that uses the power of the Internet to catalyze greater government openness and transparency, and provides new tools and resources for media and citizens, alike.
Source: http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2015/02/26/net-neutrality-represents-an-important-win-for-democracy/
All I know is everything that comes out of Obama’s mouth is a lie.
How is this an important win for democracy? First off this was an illegal vote because the FCC is NOT elected and can’t vote on anything, and second, why was this all done in secrecy? What is is the 332 pages?
Am I the only one that has a problem with this?
It seems to me the treasonous traitor in the white house is looking for a fight.
yes!
IF by democracy you mean the complete obliteration of freedom of speech, then yes..
This is the government’s opening act to take over the internet. With passage of the new rule, the FCC will regulate the internet as a utility. To fix what problem? None. It’ll soon be new taxes on internet service providers.
Next it’ll be the Obama-Net, just like the Obama-Phones. Don’t have broadband internet? No problem, the government will tax those who have it to provide it free to those who don’t.
Don’t like what some people publish on the internet? Fine, the government will make sure nobody says anything that’s politically incorrect (or that the administration doesn’t agree with).
In a few years you won’t recognize the internet in the U.S.