Success: Net Neutrality Preserved

Target: Merrick B. Garland, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

Goal: Applaud decision to uphold rules preventing corporations from blocking or degrading internet traffic.

For the past several years, the internet has been under fire by bills that would allow corporations to place an embargo on online content. This was bad news for practically the whole population, as more people these days rely on the internet not just for entertainment but for work and school. We get our news from the internet more readily than we do from newspapers and television. Entire companies are web-based. People lacking the means to leave their homes or obtain goods locally can order groceries and take-out meals online. Entering a contest or applying for a job is as easy as filling out a form and clicking a button.

For years, the government as well as many organizations sought to make the internet a privilege, not a right. Content was censored, fair use was denied, and every time a bill limiting internet freedom was proposed, people fought it with everything they had.

Recently, a court of appeals ruled that the internet is a free and fair place where everyone should have equal access. The internet is finally being treated as a utility rather than a luxury or a privilege; something we need to help us in our daily lives rather than just the refuge of a shut-in, as was its reputation long ago. We are finally free to share ideas and feelings, to communicate and voice our opinions without the fear of being punished or shut down.

This petition on ForceChange was one of many that fought against the attack on internet freedom, and it has been a total success. No longer do we need to fear corporations censoring our ideas and opinions. Thank the court for blocking the reckless censorship and policing of the internet.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Garland,

Thank you for finally bringing the internet’s fight against censorship to a close with this victory. There has never been any reason to censor the internet or limit its availability.

Privacy and free speech are important rights for all humankind, be they online or offline, and you’ve ensured the protection of both. Thank you for making net neutrality a reality instead of a far-off dream.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Joe Gratz