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    Write a Letter to the Editor to Save Net Neutrality

    Congress can still save Net Neutrality — but it has only until the end of 2018 to do it.

    On January 3, a new Congress will be sworn in, and at that point we will lose the opportunity to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to restore the open internet-rules the FCC destroyed last year.

    The Senate has already passed the CRA, and we need to do everything in our power right now to make sure our House reps know how important saving Net Neutrality is to the people who vote for them. That’s why we’re asking people like you to write letters to the editor of their local papers and urge their lawmakers to sign the discharge petition to force a vote on the Net Neutrality CRA.

    Write a letter to the editor today and let your community and rep know why saving the open internet is important to you.

    • Talking Points
    • Writing Tips

    Here’s a fraction of the many reasons the House of Representatives needs to vote to save Net Neutrality:

    • 86 percent of people in the United States oppose the FCC’s repeal of Net Neutrality — including 82 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats.1
    • Restoring the Title II Net Neutrality rules is about preserving civil rights online. The open internet is a place where movements are born, where communities often ignored or stereotyped by mainstream media can tell their own stories, and where families, friends and people who might have never before connected can build community.
    • Net Neutrality is supported by thousands of small-business owners2 who rely on the open internet to compete in an ever-growing online marketplace.
    • ISPs have proven over and over again that they can’t be trusted to regulate themselves3 when it comes to blocking and throttling content.
    • A recent poll found that Net Neutrality could be an issue voters take into consideration when they head to the polls in November.4
    • The CRA is the only Net Neutrality legislation that has any chance of passing this year. While some reps are attempting to push for alternate legislative solutions, those bills don’t stand a chance of passing and hurt the CRA’s chances.

    1. “Overwhelming Bipartisan Public Opposition to Repealing Net Neutrality Persists,” University of Maryland, April 18, 2018: http://www.publicconsultation.org/united-states/overwhelming-bipartisan-public-opposition-to-repealing-net-neutrality-persists/

    2. “Businesses for Net Neutrality,” BusinessesforNetNeutrality.com: https://www.businessesfornetneutrality.com/#businesses

    3. “Net Neutrality Violations: A Brief History,” Free Press, Jan. 24, 2018: https://www.freepress.net/our-response/expert-analysis/explainers/net-neutrality-violations-brief-history

    4. “Survey: Net Neutrality Could Be Midterm Issue,” Multichannel News, July 25, 2018: https://www.multichannel.com/news/survey-net-neutrality-could-be-midterm-issue

    Open your letter by stating the problem that concerns you — in this case, saving Net Neutrality and using the CRA to do it.

    Define why this issue is important. Net Neutrality is one of the most important communications issues internet users in the United States are facing today. Without the Title II Net Neutrality rules, ISPs will be able to block and throttle content as they see fit and won’t have to tell anyone about it. This means your ISP has control over what you see and do online.

    Offer a recommendation. Representatives must sign on to the discharge petition to force a vote on the CRA resolution to undo the FCC’s wrongheaded Net Neutrality repeal. If you’re from a district with a Republican rep, urge them to resist pressure from House Speaker Paul Ryan to stop the vote from happening.

    Sign the letter. Provide your full name, mailing address, email address and phone number (many outlets will want to contact you before publishing). Include any relevant organizational affiliation.

    Here’s more info about how to write a great letter to the editor: https://www.freepress.net/sites/default/files/2018-02/lettertotheeditor-7_0.pdf