COVID-19 Alert

Friend,

As COVID-19 spreads across the country, access to a free and open internet can help save lives. This is especially true for low-income communities and people of color, who are too often on the wrong side of the digital divide — and who are being hit the hardest by the pandemic.

But with the repeal of Title II Net Neutrality, Trump’s FCC has jeopardized our ability to access lifesaving information and services — and has left us all dependent on voluntary pledges from corporations like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.

Sign the petition: Demand the FCC reinstate Title II Net Neutrality now and protect our access to lifesaving communications.

When the FCC repealed Net Neutrality and abandoned its authority under Title II — the legal foundation for strong open-internet rules — we knew the agency was unleashing chaos. Its reckless action undercut its own authority to ensure that the public and first responders have open and reliable communications networks. It also undermined the legal foundation that supports the FCC’s broadband Lifeline program, which helps provide affordable internet access for poor people. The FCC even gave up any authority it might have to stop ISPs from disconnecting internet service during pandemics.

Right now the FCC should be leading efforts to get and keep people online. But without legal authority under Title II, the agency is largely sitting on the sidelines and just asking big ISPs to keep people connected for a little while.

To say that this is unacceptable is a HUGE understatement.

For the past decade, people from across the political spectrum have overwhelmingly demanded that the FCC protect a free and open internet. Instead we’re all stuck with this mess. The best way for the agency to fix its mistakes is clear: Restore Title II and Net Neutrality.

Free Press has been in the fight to protect a free and open internet since the beginning. And you, our members, have been the key to every victory along the way. Take a moment to urge the FCC to restore Title II and Net Neutrality.

Thank you for being with us.

We hope you and your loved ones are well.

Heather, Lucia and the rest of the Free Press team
freepress.net