Web Rallies in Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality

"This webpage cannot be displayed" may soon become the catchphrase of the internet, if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has their way.

As the FCC and its new Republican chairman Ajit Pai continue their efforts to scale back net neutrality, the digital rights movement that advocates internet service providers (ISPs) treat all Internet traffic equally, internet-based companies and activist groups have rallied in a Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality. Across the web, companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, among others, are encouraging their users to join their support for the open internet.

“The FCC needs to listen to the public, not just lobbyists from big cable companies,” said Evan Greer, a leading organizer in the Day of Action. “Today, the Internet is showing its political power. No one wants companies like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon to have control over what we can see and do online, or to have to pay them extra fees to access the content we want.”

In addition to the multi-billion dollar companies sounding the alarm, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Senator Bernie Sanders and political action groups such as the the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have given their support to protecting net neutrality. Since its launch this morning, more than 100,000 people have joined the online protest.

If by chance you thought the fight to protect net neutrality happened a few years ago, you're not wrong. In 2015, following a massive public outcry, the FCC reclassified the internet as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act. The regulation strictly prohibited the use of prioritization or "fast lane" agreements, which give ISPs preference of one website over another.

However, since being appointed by President Trump as the head of the FCC this year, Chairman Pai has re-opened the fight to repeal net neutrality protections, particularly the aforementioned Title II of the Communications Act. The removal of such a rule would give ISPs greater control over what their subscribers see, how fast they see it, how much they pay to see it and change the fundamental ways people use the internet.

Here are how some of the biggest site's on the internet are expressing their support of net neutrality.

Netflix

Netflix has posted a banner, showing their some 100-million subscribers where they can take action.

Airbnb

The online marketplace for renting out someone's apartment for the night, Airbnb, has posted a rather large notice on their homepage.

Tumblr

One of the leaders in the fight to protect net neutrality for years, Tumblr has posted an update on their efforts on the Tumblr staff account. They also provide users with ways they can get involved.

CollegeHumor

CollegeHumor and the cast of Adam Ruins Everything have teamed up to put together a quick and funny explainer on net neutrality and what its loss would mean to the internet.