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dislikes_corruption writes:

For those who haven't heard, the FCC has recently announced a plan to essentially kill network neutrality. With regulatory endorsement, it's hard to imagine ever getting it back. This is the first time I'm doing a petition like this, or trying any sort of advocacy of this nature, but the FCC's conduct here is so flagrantly corrupt, and what they're trying to destroy is something that I see as so very valuable, that I feel like I have to do something.

I'll quote the text of the petition:

Title Reclassify Internet broadband providers as common carriers.

We have benefited enormously from the egalitarian way in which the Internet treats information regardless of type or source, some of the most successful companies in America owe their existence this feature, but the FCC has failed to establish it as policy. Now the FCC has proposed a system that allows broadband providers to discriminate amongst Internet traffic, ensuring special treatment for companies and services of their choosing, the opposite of the neutral Internet that has existed so far. When the court vacated the FCC's weak rules on traffic discrimination in January, the judge gave a specific instruction on how they could ensure a neutral Internet within the boundaries of the law: reclassify Internet broadband providers as "common carriers." We are petitioning for just that.

There are a couple of criticisms that I can think of which could possibly be going through your head here: this is a Whitehouse petition but the president does not control the FCC, and can not order them to do anything. And: Whitehouse.gov petitions have had rather inconsistent impact.

These are both valid points, but the important thing here is establishing that people care about this. A lot of people. The president can't order the FCC around, but congress can and it is possible for very public expression by enough people to sway congress. Even with Comcast lining their pockets on the other side.

Here is the short link to the petition: http://wh.gov/lfaP6
and the longer link: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reclassi fy-internet-broadband-providers-common-carriers/4M rqLTlV
(For some reason, they give you two. Either one will work.)

Tell your friends!