Net Neutrality Day gets lift from tech,
Amazon, Twitter are among companies ready to participate
The country’s largest tech companies on Wednesday will try to mobilize users in an online protest to fight the reversal of Obama-era rules that govern Internet access.
The “Net Neutrality Day of Action” refers to the concept that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. In other words, Internet Service Providers, such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, should not be able to block, speed or slow down legal websites — or give preferential treatment to others, including their own.
The fear is that ISPs will wield too much control over how and what users see by charging extra for faster speeds. ISPs say they wouldn’t do this, anyway, but in 2015, the Federal Communications Commission implemented regulations to enforce that behavior. A groundswell of support for Net Neutrality, stemming in part from Internet forums such as Reddit, made these rules a popular cause. Now, the FCC under the leadership of Trump-appointee Ajit Pai has proposed a reversal of these regulations, which he has said unfairly burden the ISPs and are archaic for relying on utility-style regulation.
The protest, supported by big Web companies including Facebook, Amazon and Snapchat, intends to draw attention to the issue just days before the open comment period on the proposed regulations ends. In the days since the FCC opened its website for feedback, the proposal has gotten more than 5 million comments, in part due to Last Week
Tonight’s John Oliver instructing his viewers to let regulators know where they stand.
Pai has said he agrees with the basic principals of Net neutrality but believes the government should not impose preemptive regulations on ISPs.
Wednesday is when Internet websites will attempt to show users what the Web would look like if Net neutrality regulations are reversed. This movement, also named Battle for the Net, is being organized by three organizations that aim to protect Net neutrality rules: Fight for the Future, Free Press Action Fund and Demand Progress.
Websites will post an alert on their homepage that encourages users to send a comment to the FCC and Congress about protecting Net neutrality rules. These alerts will show scenarios that their supporters warn could happen if Net neutrality regulations are reversed, such as slow loading of content, blocked symbols or having to pay to upgrade to better service. Apps are sending out push notifications on smartphones as well that will serve a similar purpose to the alerts.
The Battle for the Net website lists 187 websites, companies and organizations that confirmed they are participating Wednesday, including Amazon, Twitter, Snapchat and Netflix, which was on the sidelines when the protest was first announced.