Here’s What You Can Do to Pass the Save the Internet Act
By Free Press
This just in: A key House committee passed the Save the Internet Act!
This is a huge milestone. Multiple representatives who have been Net Neutrality skeptics in the past voted for this bill, citing all the contacts, stories and messages they’ve received from constituents. Thanks to your activism, the bill is now on its way to a full House floor vote and is one step closer to becoming a law.
A few days ago I was at a comedy show where the performer did an improv set in the style of a presidential-campaign stop. Audience members yelled out the names of social and political issues as the comic responded. Someone in the back kept yelling “NET NEUTRALITYYYYYY!” It wasn’t loud enough to be heard on stage. But I heard it with joy every time.
Contrast that experience with emails I got years and years ago along the lines of “Net Neu-tra-li-WHAT? Stop calling it that. What does that even mean. Yr dumb.” Now I get messages from social workers, doctors, high-school students, small-business owners and retirees who depend on the internet for their day-to-day activities and track all the ins and outs of the policy nuances.
Working on this digital civil-rights issue at Free Press Action has been such a transformative experience. Over time, our collective campaigning and organizing shifted the narrative.
Millions of people showed up in the streets, called their lawmakers and talked with their friends about the issue. Elected and appointed officials started listening to the people they represent. Celebrities and late-night TV hosts got in on the action. Heck, Burger King even made an ad about it. We literally rewrote the rules and celebrated victories to defend those rules in court.
Despite the terrible decision from Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai — a former Verizon lawyer — it’s clear that people all across the political spectrum want Net Neutrality. We’re against online discrimination in any form.
The Save the Internet Act — which would restore the rules that Pai destroyed —will move to a full floor vote in the House as early as next week. But we’ll win only if all of us take action and contact our reps.
Are you in? Could you make a call today — and help make history?
Here’s what you can do:
1. Call your rep at 202-751-4622. Tell your lawmaker to pass the Save the Internet Act with no loopholes. This legislation would restore real Net Neutrality protections.
2. Sign up for a volunteer shift in the next 7 days to encourage people to call their reps. You can do this wherever you are and no experience is necessary. All you need is access to a browser through a computer, tablet or phone.
Not everyone can commit to shifts, and that’s OK! If this doesn’t work for you ask 10 of your friends to make a call at 202-751-4622.
3. Donate to Free Press Action. We don’t take money from business, government or political parties because our independence is too important. Every dollar helps us fight for Net Neutrality protections, stop online hate and work for racial justice in media and tech.
If you’re like I’m all in I want more to do fill out this form and we’ll get you everything you need right away to take additional steps to pass the Save the Internet Act. Or write to us and tell us what you want to do so we can support your activism. We’re at organizing@freepress.net.
Together we can pass this bill.