WASHINGTON, DC— Moments ago, the Federal Communications Commission voted to adopt a new Open Internet order, implementing strong net neutrality protections using Title II of the Communications Act.
Future of Music Coalition CEO Casey Rae made the following statement: read more
That’s not something I thought I’d ever say about the bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission.
After years of cronyism, corruption and cowardice, Thursday’s vote for strong Net Neutrality rules at the FCC is unexpected if not unprecedented.
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Credit FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler for listening to his critics and changing his mind about how to best protect the open Internet. Praise President Obama for using his bully pulpit. Thank John Oliver for coining the memorable phrase “cable company fuckery.” read more
In two days, the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on a number of sweeping internet regulations, which will regulate internet service providers as public utilities. They’ll also set standards on connection speed and pricing, and they’ll generally prevent internet users from being at the mercy of internet service providers. The measures are expected to pass by a partisan 3-2 vote, thanks largely to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who’s recently come around on the net neutrality issue. Various Republicans are trying to stop or delay the vote, but the Future Of Music Coalition, a musician-advocacy nonprofit, recently posted an open letter in which a number of artists announce their support of Wheeler and of net neutrality.
Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum and Astra Taylor and Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry of R.E.M. are among the dozens of musicians who signed an open letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler in support of net neutrality.
They argued that, without net neutrality, artists won’t be able to distribute their work online without big corporations that pay Internet service providers for bandwidth.
On Thursday the FCC will vote on the future of the internet in the US, which also includes the future of internet radio in all its forms. The five commissioners will weigh in on Chairman Tom Wheeler’s Open Internet proposal at the Commission’s February open meeting.
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Even if Pai and O’Reilly both vote “no” on Thursday, Wheeler will probably get the assent of his two fellow Democrats for a 3–2 win. read more
Net neutrality is one of the great issues facing modern society, at least as far as the Internet is concerned, but it has been consistently held back by one small problem: It’s kind of hard to understand. We know Netflix is one of the good guys, and it wants to make sure that everyone’s House Of Cards binges don’t get interrupted this weekend by slow download speeds. On the other side, as always, are the cable companies and Internet providers who think they can get richer and richer by systematically destroying everything that brings us happiness—like, you know, the Internet. The Federal Communications Commission is set to vote on net neutrality this Thursday but, frankly, we’re still a bit confused. read more
WASHINGTON, DC—On Monday February 23, dozens of musicians and independent cultural creators came together in a letter to Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, thanking him for moving forward with strong net neutrality rules, in advance of the Commission’s vote on February 26. read more
We write to you at a crucial moment for net neutrality, as we probably don’t have to remind you. We understand that your position can be thankless and that it is difficult to take a stand for what is right when there is so much pressure from powerful interests and their political allies. As musicians and composers, we want to thank you for moving forward with strong net neutrality rules. As so many creators have already noted, reclassification under Title II is the best way to ensure that the Internet remains open for us to build businesses, reach audiences and earn a living in what is a challenging marketplace for creative content.
You certainly have our appreciation. And we urge you to remain steadfast in your efforts to keep the Internet a viable platform for creative entrepreneurs. Without clear and enforceable rules that let us compete alongside the biggest companies, our ability to create and innovate will be threatened, if not extinguished.
Future of Music Coalition met with FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn’s staff to discuss so-called “zero-rating”—the practice of excepting certain online applications, sites and services from user-imposed data caps. This ex-parte filing details the conversation and lays out how zero-rating can be used to hinder competition and why it ultimately serves to disadvantage creative entrepreneurs.
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February 13, 2015
Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, SW
Washington, DC 20054 Via Electronic Filing
Re: GN Docket No. 14-28, Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet
We write to you at a crucial moment for net neutrality, as we probably don’t have to remind you. We understand that your position can be thankless and that it is difficult to take a stand for what is right when there is so much pressure from powerful interests and their political allies. As musicians and composers, we want to thank you for moving forward with strong net neutrality rules. As so many creators have already noted, reclassification under Title II is the best way to ensure that the Internet remains open for us to build businesses, reach audiences and earn a living in what is a challenging marketplace for creative content.
You certainly have our appreciation. And we urge you to remain steadfast in your efforts to keep the Internet a viable platform for creative entrepreneurs. Without clear and enforceable rules that let us compete alongside the biggest companies, our ability to create and innovate will be threatened, if not extinguished.
Please don’t be fooled by those trying to turn this issue into a partisan grudge match. Not only do recent polls show that some 80 percent of conservatives back your plan, the creative community—which includes folks of all political dispositions—is equally supportive. The reason is simple: creators of all genres and backgrounds will benefit from the protections your proposal would enshrine. Net neutrality is not only a powerful engine of creative expression and civic discourse, it is the very oxygen of a free and competitive marketplace built on technological and cultural innovation. And artists are drivers of both.
Artists have endured tremendous consolidation in the media marketplace that has limited opportunities for many to reach audiences and earn a living. We are sure that you probably don’t need to be reminded, but we’ll mention it anyway: there is a public interest imperative in preserving an open Internet and the creative sector is a huge part of this interest. It is our creativity that enriches culture and inspires the world in countless ways. The Internet is one of the greatest amplifiers of our contributions to society, and society benefits from access to a diverse array of lawful online content. While we await details of the specific provisions in your proposal, we are confident that you have chosen the proper framework with which to proceed.
We know that you will face political opposition and coordinated attacks from well-funded corporations. But isn’t it cooler to have us on your side than some giant ISP? We think so. And we’ll step up to defend your plan because we know it’s the right call, and we know you understand the importance of making it.
So we thank you, Chairman Wheeler. For listening to our perspectives and making some tough but crucial decisions. Now let’s get this thing over the finish line so that today and tomorrow’s artists can continue to enrich our culture and achieve excellence on our own terms.
Sincerely,
Alastair Brown, Northcape
Alec Ounsworth, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Amanda Palmer
Anni Rossi
Benji Rogers, Pledge Music
Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe of R.E.M.
