The Daily Kos community absolutely rocked the Federal Communication Commission's public comment period on its proposed net neutrality rules. We took just under 1 million online, individual actions—a combined 988,888 actions—in support of a free and open internet: 420,334 direct and personal comments to the FCC; 264,116 petitions to the FCC; 160,347 comments to the White House; 125,177 comments to members of Congress; and 18,914 petitions to the White House. We've been recognized by the Sunlight Foundation as
one of a handful of organizations leading the fight with our efforts, largely thanks to our kick-ass action team, and this campaign's director, Rachel Colyer.
In our official comment to the FCC, Markos wrote about the founding of Daily Kos and what we've been able to achieve because of the open internet. Here's a snippet of the full comment (which has not been published to the FCC site yet):
Founded on May 26, 2002, Daily Kos is the premier online political community with over eight million unique visitors per month and over a quarter of a million registered users. It is at once a news organization, online community, and activist organization with a burgeoning campaign operation. Daily Kos is on the cutting edge of media, online organizing, offline action, and is a massive community building platform which millions of regular Americans have used to shape a political world once the exclusive domain of the rich, connected, and powerful.
Daily Kos depends on a level playing field online in order to create news content and drive online campaigns. We work tirelessly to elect more and better Democrats to help spread democratic values. [...]
Since, 2002 Daily Kos has grown to a staff of nearly 40 employees who telework from around the country, collaborating online to provide content that reaches millions of readers and community members each month. We’ve raised millions of dollars for candidates and causes through our website and supporting technologies, none of which would’ve been possible without a fair shot on the internet--free from unreasonable discrimination and additional access fees from gatekeepers, like the big Internet Service Providers.
Without net neutrality, none of that exists. With the "solution" Chairman Tom Wheeler came up with in his current proposal—allowing ISPs to create fast lanes for the companies who could afford to pay for higher speed delivery of their content—Daily Kos's future is in jeopardy. That's still the message Wheeler needs to hear, and he needs to hear it in person. Right now, he's planned a bunch of "roundtable" talks at the FCC in DC. Lobbyists, industry insiders, and some public interest advocates will have the chance to talk to the commissioners about net neutrality. But as Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
argue, this discussion matters a lot more
outside the Beltway. They are demanding that Wheeler and the FCC take these roundtables on the road, get away from the lobbyists and talk to the people. Rep. Matsui is
holding a public meeting with FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel on September 24, but so far Wheeler hasn't announced a public appearance anywhere outside of D.C.
We're joining in the demand that the FCC, and specifically Wheeler, hold large, open public field hearings to face the American public. The FCC isn't expected to make a decision on this proposed rule until late this fall. Between now and then, we can't let our voices be drowned out by Big Telecom and their lobbyists.
Sign and send the petition to the FCC demanding the Chairman come out and face the public support for real net neutrality. Please personalize your statement to the Chairman before sending the comment. The Chairman and staff are more likely to listen to personal messages.