Today (July 15, 2014), an array of prominent musicians and songwriters filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the regulatory agency to keep the Internet open to creativity and entrepreneurship. In a separate filing, more than two dozen influential arts and cultural organizations representing all 50 states told the FCC to adopt the strongest rules possible to prevent Internet Service Providers (ISPs)—like Comcast and Verizon—from picking winners and losers online.
Musicians filing comments include:

Nicole Atkins
Laura Ballance, bass player/ song writer for Superchunk, label owner, Merge Records
Charles Bissell, The Wrens
Rebecca Gates, musician/composer/producer
Merrill Garbus, tUnE-yArDs
Jim James, My Morning Jacket
Cheston Knapp, writer/editor
Erin McKeown
Sean Meadows, Everlasting the Way
Brett Lyman, co-owner of M’lady’s Records, Machu Picchu Records, and musician (Chain & the Gang, Hive Dwellers)
Neal Morgan, drummer/arranger
Thao Nguyen, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
OK Go
Alec Ounsworth, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jeff Parker, (guitarist/composer/jazz musician/member of Tortoise)
Tony Perez, Editor, Tin House Books
Martín Perna (saxophone- Antibalas, Daptone Super Soul Revue)
Nate Query, bassist,  The Decemberists, Black Prairie
REM
John Strohm, musician and attorney
Laura Veirs, singer-songwriter
Michael Wells, Dir. of Ops & Digital Light @ In The Attic Records, bassist for The Walkabouts

These artists join thousands of other musicians and independent labels already on record calling for an open, accessible internet. The artists above said that the FCC’s current plan could create a “pay-to-play” environment with which musicians are all too familiar:

We music people know payola when we see it. And what we see in Chairman Wheeler’s proposal doesn’t give us any confidence that we won’t end up with an Internet where pay-by-play rules the day. We’ve heard this song before, and we’re frankly pretty tired of it.

We suppose there’s no harm in telling you again. But this time, we really hope you’ll listen. We may not be telecom lawyers, but we get this issue pretty clearly. You have the legal authority to prevent discrimination and paid prioritization online. You only need to exercise it.

Arts and cultural organizations filing comments include:

Alternate ROOTS
Americans for the Arts
American Community Television
American Composers Forum
Association of American Arts Presenters
Chamber Music America
Chorus America
Dance/USA
Fractured Atlas
Future of Music Coalition
Independent Film & Television Alliance
League of American Orchestras
National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
National Performance Network
Network of Ensemble Theaters
New Music USA
OPERA America
Performing Arts Alliance
Sundance Institute
Theater Communications Group
Writers Guild of America West

The groups tell the FCC that any rules must prevent ISPs from discriminating against, slowing down or blocking lawful content, applications and services, making the case that America’s creative communities depend on an open internet to advance culture and grow the economy:

“The groups behind these comments believe strongly that the Federal Communications Commission must safeguard an open and accessible Internet for many reasons, including our sector’s ability to inspire new generations of cultural ambassadors, creators and innovators using the most important communications platform in history,” the filing states. “Users must be able to access the lawful platforms of their choosing and experience the unfettered delivery of a diverse range of content, including that offered by members of our community.”

It’s not to late to make YOUR voice heard! The initial comments phase closes today at midnight. You can email comments to openinternet [at] fcc [dot] gov or file via this page. A reply comments period will follow shortly—we’ll let you know about how to stay involved.