We should use it ourselves, with a bit of editing!
While we've all been busy inundating the FCC with our opposition to the new "Open Internet" rules purportedly being circulated by Chairman Wheeler, and advocating the classification of 'last-mile" broadband service as a Title II common carrier, the conglomerates have been lobbying everyone in Congress to sign and send the FCC this letter:
The Honorable Thomas E. Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
May __, 2014
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
I have been following with interest your ongoing proceeding on how best to re-implement the “net neutrality” rules. Like you, I believe it is critical that we maintain a free and open Internet, where consumers are not blocked from accessing the websites of their choice and providers do not use their control over the last mile to stifle competition.
As you consider how best to move forward to achieve these goals, I write to share my concerns with reports that the Commission may be considering achieving these goals by reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a “Title II” common carrier service. In the years that broadband service has been subjected to relatively little regulation, investment and deployment have flourished and broadband competition has increased, all to the benefit of consumers and the American economy.
While we still have further to go to ensure that the benefits of broadband reach all Americans, I am concerned that opening the door to subjecting broadband service to a wide array of regulatory burdens and restrictions, including imposing Title II, might halt this progress. I respectfully urge you to consider the effect that regressing to a Title II approach might have on private companies’ ability to attract capital and their continued incentives to invest and innovate, as well as the potentially negative impact on job creation that might result from any reduction in funding or investment. I share your goals of keeping the Internet open to all. I do not believe that a Title II approach is the best means of achieving this goal for our country.
Thank you for your work on this very important issue.
Sincerely,
With a little editing, I came up with this (My emphasis on the edits):
The Honorable Thomas E. Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
May __, 2014
Dear Chairman Wheeler, and Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai, and O’Rielly:
I have been following with interest your ongoing proceeding on how best to re-implement the “net neutrality” rules. Like you, I believe it is critical that we maintain a free and open Internet, where consumers are not blocked from accessing the websites of their choice and providers do not use their control over the last mile to stifle competition.
As you consider how best to move forward to achieve these goals, I write to share my concerns with reports that the Commission may not be considering achieving these goals by reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a “Title II” common carrier service. In recent years, after the initial build-out, that broadband service has been subjected to relatively little regulation. Investment, competition and deployment have dwindled and broadband consolidation and service rates have increased, all to the detriment of consumers and the American economy.
While we still have further to go to ensure that the benefits of broadband reach all Americans, I am convinced that opening the door to subjecting broadband service to some regulatory oversight, i.e, imposing Title II, is the only way to ensure this progress. I respectfully urge you to consider the effect that reclassifying to a Title II approach will have on private companies’ ability to exact extortionate fees from content providers and last mile customers. Their huge profit margins already ensure they have sufficient capital, and should be enough incentive, to continue to invest and innovate. Consider as well, the potentially huge positive impact on job creation that might result from any new innovations or next-generation infrastructure investment. I share your goals of keeping the Internet open to all. I whole-heartedly believe that a Title II approach is the best means of achieving this goal for our country.
Thank you for your work on this very important issue.
Sincerely,
The FCC has created a convenient new email account where you can send your comments directly to the official comments docket:
openinternet@fcc.gov
Or, if you prefer the personal touch, you can send personally adapted versions to each Commissioner individually:
Chairman Tom Wheeler: Tom.Wheeler@fcc.gov
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov
Commissioner Ajit Pai: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael O’Rielly: Mike.O'Rielly@fcc.gov
For your convenience, you can send them all the same letter at once by copying the following text and pasting it into the address line of a single new email message:
Tom.Wheeler@fcc.gov, Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov, Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov, Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov, Mike.O'Rielly@fcc.gov
When I sent mine, after my name at the end, for a little emphasis, I added:
Constituent of:
Congressman Mike Kelly,
Senator Pat Toomey,
Senator Bob Casey
(Yeah, I know. The first two are a couple of real toads, but what can I say? I'm from rural PA.)