Messages from Internet users to be beamed on Giant Jumbotron outside U.S. FCC, in run-up to crucial Net Neutrality decision with major implications for Canada

Vancouver-based Internet freedom group OpenMedia, with support from diverse coalition, including Daily Kos, Tumblr, Fark, The Center for Media Justice, Roots Action, and The Nation, to park giant Jumbotron outside FCC headquarters and stream thousands of messages and images from citizens

“This FCC decision will determine the future of the Internet for people all over the world,” said OpenMedia campaign manager Josh Tabish. “We want to make clear where millions of Internet users stand, and that’s why we’re going to park a giant Jumbotron outside the FCC. This way, FCC chair Tom Wheeler won’t be able to ignore our voices in these crucial final days.”

Tabish continued: “Right now, Big Telecom’s lobbyists are swarming Washington D.C. to insert dangerous loopholes that could slow our favorite websites to a crawl. These lobbyists wield enormous influence - but we have millions of people behind us and we won’t be ignored.”

The FCC is due to announce their decision next Thursday, February 26. Draft rules outlined by FCC chair Tom Wheeler earlier this month received a cautious welcome from Internet activists. However the giant telecom conglomerates responded by threatening to sue and pushing for new slow lane loopholes in Congress.

Citizens are already submitting messages, images, and memes through the new StopTheSlowdown.net tool. These messages will be displayed when the Jumbotron is parked outside FCC headquarters next Wednesday - where it will remain for the final 24 hours before the FCC announces its decision.

About OpenMedia.ca

OpenMedia.ca is an award-winning community-based organization that safeguards the possibilities of the open Internet. We work toward informed and participatory digital policy by engaging hundreds of thousands of people in protecting our online rights.

Through campaigns such as StopTheMeter.ca and StopSpying.ca, OpenMedia.ca has engaged over half-a-million Canadians, and has influenced public policy and federal law.

About OpenMedia’s slow lane campaign

OpenMedia’s campaign came against the backdrop of a crucial U.S. FCC hearing which could decide the future of net neutrality. Large telecom conglomerates are pushing the FCC to do away with net neutrality, a move that would open the door to an Internet slow lane and have major implications for Internet users everywhere.

To push back, OpenMedia joined with over 60 organizations from over 25 nations to launch Big Telecom -v- The World, a week of action aimed at sounding a loud global call in defence of net neutrality. Over 180,000 people from around the world have signed on to the campaign, making it OpenMedia’s most successful campaign launch of 2014. It was part of a wider effort that has seen over 5 million speak out to stop Big Telecom’s Internet slow lane.

Then, OpenMedia’s Josh Tabish travelled to Washington to meet with senior White House staff, as part of a delegation of civil society organizations and tech companies. Shortly afterward, President Obama issued a strong call to the FCC to create the “strongest possible” net neutrality rules.

The final FCC decision will be announced on Thursday February 26.

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Contact

David Christopher

Communications Manager

OpenMedia

[email protected]

(778) 232-1858