Dear all
A few minutes ago, we published a blog post in support of the U.S. net
neutrality rules. We urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not
to eliminate the current framework which protects the open internet.
The FCC's proposal would repeal the rules against blocking or throttling
lawful content and against paid prioritization of traffic as well as the
general conduct rule that seeks to prevent unfair practices by ISPs. We
support the rules because they protect access to knowledge. We believe that
everybody should have equal access to knowledge and that ISPs should not be
allowed to block lawful sources of information online. For people to
contribute to Wikipedia they have to be able to access sources of
information on the web to reference in articles they edit or for
verification. They have to be able to connect to Wikipedia freely in order
to edit articles collaboratively and in real time.
The FCC’s proposal to eliminate the net neutrality rules and deregulate
ISPs is a drastic step in the wrong direction and threatens access to
knowledge, freedom of expression, and collaboration on the web.
Without net neutrality, if ISPs are allowed to block, throttle, or
de-prioritize traffic unless users or website providers pay them for
preferential treatment or delivery of content, a diversity of information
and voices online is threatened. Yet, said diversity of voices online as
well as the ability to connect freely are essential to Wikimedia’s mission
empower people around the world to collect knowledge and share it globally.
You can read our blog post here
<https://blog.wikimedia.org/2017/12/04/net-neutrality-access-to-knowledge/>.
Please help us spread the word on twitter
<https://twitter.com/wikimediapolicy/status/937730976855109632>.
Best,
Jan
==
Jan Gerlach
Public Policy Manager
Wikimedia Foundation
1 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104
jgerlach(a)wikimedia.org
@pd_w <https://twitter.com/pd_w>
@wikimediapolicy <https://twitter.com/wikimediapolicy>