Stop the Attack on Net Neutrality:  A Statement from The Board of Directors of The Badass Teachers Association

The Badass Teachers Association, a grassroots national education activist organization, calls on all members of our network to contact your federal lawmaker and the FCC about net neutrality.  Tell them to vote this down and to continue to give FREE access to the internet for ALL Americans NOT just the wealthy.  They will be voting on December 14th.  Network neutrality means that all websites and services have identical access to internet users. As well cable broadband or wireless providers can’t block some sites or services and can’t demand payment to prioritize one firm’s service over a rival.  Trump’s chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai intends to roll back the Obama rules that made access and speed of internet the same for all.

Ending net neutrality would be disastrous for grassroots education activists that depend on a free and open internet to organize. Allowing internet service providers to dictate what sites we can access and how fast we can access them based on our willingness to pay would cripple our ability to be effective advocates. Contact your representative today and tell them you support net neutrality. ~Dr. Denisha Jones, Board Member, The Badass Teachers Association

Information has become power in this world. Limiting access to information through a cost-prohibitive structure imposes another tool of segregation amongst our students, with students from lower socio-economic backgrounds potentially losing the ability to access sites that other students would be able to access. ~Melissa Tomlinson, Asst. Executive Director, The Badass Teachers Association

As it stands, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to vote Dec. 14 to undo strict regulations on Internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon that stops them from slowing down or blocking any sites, apps, or otherwise deciding which content gets to users faster. If the Republican-controlled five-member committee votes as expected, it would muzzle free speech. It would effectively stifle hundreds, thousands of grassroots activists who’ve taken to the Web to educate and protest against the plutocracy strangling our democratic freedoms. Think about it. Close your eyes and imagine a United States where you couldn’t access your favorite Websites without paying a fee or – as in China – maybe even at all. ~Steven Singer, Co-Director Blogging, and Research, The Badass Teachers Association

The main issue with net neutrality is that it will increase costs for everyone and make it so only monied interests control everything people can access.  Americans will be paying more for broadband, and our choices will be left up to your internet service provider!  Call the FCC now at 202-418-1000.  Leave a  voicemail stating your name, state, and say NO REPEAL of net neutrality.  Then call or email your federal legislature and demand they vote NO REPEAL.  Remind them you will be following up on how they voted.  Here is a link to find your federal lawmakers  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members


To read Steven Singers article on Net Neutrality go here https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/killing-net-neutrality-would-muzzle-many-teacher-activists/