Internet organisations from all over the world are working together to continue the fight as net neutrality in the US is scheduled to end by April 2018. Reddit is leading this initiative, as usual, and several subreddits are already presenting viewers with enormous banners before showing them the submissions.
Users are urged by the banner, which is displayed below, to take part in Operation #OneMoreVote, a day of protest against the coming demise of net neutrality.
The following message was posted on the subreddit KeepOurNetFree, which is leading the effort in this area.
The FCC voted to end net neutrality in December of last year, allowing internet service providers like Verizon and Comcast to charge extra fees, restrict bandwidth, and censor online content. Subreddits like this one might not exist if this occurs. We’re just one vote away from prevailing in the Senate and pushing the battle to the House via the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which we can still use to stop the repeal. That’s why we’re participating in today’s Internet-wide day of action, Operation: #OneMoreVote. We only have 60 legislative days left to stop this, which impacts everyone who uses Reddit as well as everyone else on the Internet. Please take a moment to join the protest by getting in touch with your representatives. Here are guidelines on how to participate in the protest if you manage a subreddit.
The group further made this film, which explains precisely what might go wrong after the new regulations take effect.
It’s clear that the banner is attempting to terrify you into paying attention, but given that the elimination of net neutrality will allow ISPs to serve as gatekeepers for different websites, it’s not entirely misguided.
The US Federal Communications Commission officially repealed net neutrality, and the Federal Register, a record of official government regulations, proposed rules, and public announcements, published the record. Following publication, proponents of net neutrality will have 10 days to file a legal challenge against the decision in an effort to stop it from being repealed. In the absence of litigation, the regulation will go into effect 60 working days after it is published, or by the end of April.
Only one Republican is on the side of the 193 Democrats who support maintaining net neutrality in the House of Representatives. Democrats will need one more Republican’s support in order to carry the resolution in the Senate, but that could be difficult. The #OneMoreVote initiative takes its name from this.
