Save the Internet
TOP TEN EXAMPLES OF GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION IN THE NET NEUTRALITY FIGHT
What changed the April 2006 23-8 House committee vote against Net Neutrality into the June 2006 11-11 tie vote in a Senate committee -- and eventually led to a giant victory in December when the Senate killed a horrible bill that would have gutted Net Neutrality forever? In 2008, what force got a question about Net Neutrality asked to Barack Obama on MTV, resulting in headlines like, "Net Neutrality becomes issue in presidential race"? It was millions of everyday people who learned that Internet freedom was under attack by giant corporations and fought back together.
Top 10 Examples:
1) Over 850 organizations formed the SavetheInternet.com Coalition -- including small businesses, Craig from Craigslist, consumer groups, nonprofits, musicians, and political groups on the left and right.
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=members
2) Over 1.6 million people signed a petition to Congress and thousands called Congress, a contrast to the $1 million companies like AT&T and Verizon gave to Senate Commerce Committee members .
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=press11
3) Grassroots groups from the left and right (like MoveOn and Christian Coalition) mobilized their members to call Congress in support of Net Neutrality:
Joint Washington Times op-ed: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1884
Joint New York Times ad: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1868
4) Independent bloggers, YouTube users, and podcasters released cool audio and video:
Blogger makes techno mix of Sen. Ted Stevens' "series of tubes" rant:
http://www.boldheaded.com/podcast/steves_viral/DJ_teds_techno_tubes.mp3
DoubleSpeakShow.com's podcast on Net Neutrality - interviews with MoveOn & Craig from Craigslist:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2153
Regular guy in his backyard on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUC7MGVclUA&mode=related&search=
Tons of videos:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=videos
5) Jon Stewart humorously took on Senator Ted Stevens and told his viewers that eliminating Net Neutrality would create a "two-tiered hierarchy." View it:
First Net Neutrality segment on The Daily Show, Wednesday, July 12, 2006
http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/40375/Daily_Show_Ted_Stevens_And_Those_Internet_Tubes.html
Second Net Neutrality segment on The Daily Show, Wednesday, July 19, 2006
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=114648&title=net-neutrality-act
6) Non-political groups like college football teams, video gamers, pro-wrestling fans, and ninjas have rallied people for Net Neutrality:
College football:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=football
Video gamers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S8q4FUY5fc&search=spartan%20life
Pro-wrestling fans:
http://www.prowrestling.com/article/columns/1935
Ask a Ninja:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69eCYcDcuQ
7) Over 20,000 Myspace users and 13,000 Facebook members have joined the fight to preserve Net Neutrality
http://www.myspace.com/savetheinternet
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2207898270
8) Artists and musicians like Moby, REM, and OK GO came out for Net Neutrality, and some female singers called "The Broadband" and wrote a Net Neutrality theme song.
Moby video (featured on front page of MySpace and YouTube in May):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOJnKgsWPGw&search=moby%20internet
REM:
http://www.nme.com/news/rem/27384
OK GO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzA_zExN8h8
The Broadband's "God Save The Internet"
http://www.savetheinternet.com/broadband.html
9) 25 Net Neutrality petition deliveries to Senators across the nation in August 2006 made a huge media splash and got 6 new Senators off the fence. Then, in 2007, SavetheInternet.com Coalition members have held over 40 in-district meetings with their local members of Congress and their staff.
See full recap with photos here:
http://civic.moveon.org/save_the_internet/littleguy.html
Des Moines, Iowa ABC News - Petition Delivery to Sen. Tom Harkin, 8/30/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R8kktL5tNc
Denver, Colorado CBS News --Petition Delivery to Sen. Ken Salazar, 8/30/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO6G2YgR6IA
Burlington, Vermont CBS News --Petition Delivery to Sen. James Jeffords, 8/31/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvl8XMFxLhs
Fayetteville, Arkansas ABC News -- Petition Delivery to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, 8/30/06
http://www.thehometownchannel.com/video/9766175/detail.html?taf=fts#
Albuquerque, New Mexico -- Petition Delivery to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, 8/17/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO_xzki8fTc
Wilmington, Delaware WDEL 1150AM Video News -- Petition Delivery to Sen. Tom Carper, 8/31/06
http://wdel.com/video/?v=netneutrality.wmv
In August 2006, Senators Schumer, Harkin, Jeffords, Dayton, Akaka , and Kennedy came off the fence and announced their support for Net Neutrality -- see the full tally here. More info below:
Recap of 2007 in-district meetings:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2531
10) In 2008, Internet users made Net Neutrality a presidential campaign issue. A user-generated website called 10Questions.com announced that whatever YouTube question had the most votes by the time of an MTV forum with Barack Obama would be asked on national TV. Thousands of Internet users swooped into action, voted for a great question about Net Neutrality, and got the question asked (and answered). This also generated good headlines.
Obama answers the question on MTV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd8qY6myrrE
Huckabee supports Net Neutrality on 10Questions.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Vz2zO1_tY
CNET; "Net Neutrality becomes issue in presidential race"
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9806431-7.html
FLASHBACK: AUGUST 2006 -- NET NEUTRALITY NEWS FROM ACROSS AMERICA
In August 2006, the SavetheInternet.com Coalition sponsored petition deliveries to U.S. Senators in 25 cities across America. Families, small business owners, and other constituents delivered thousands of petitions to Senate offices, and 6 new Senators declared their support for Net Neutrality that month. Below is a compilation.
TOP VIDEOS – TV NEWSCASTS
DES MOINES, IOWA NBC NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. Tom Harkin, 8/30/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R8kktL5tNc
DENVER, COLORADO CBS NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. Ken Salazar, 8/30/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO6G2YgR6IA
BURLINGTON, VERMONT, WCAX NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. James Jeffords, 8/31/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvl8XMFxLhs
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS ABC NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, 8/30/06
http://www.thehometownchannel.com/video/9766175/detail.html?taf=fts#
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, WDEL 1150AM VIDEO NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com’s Recent Petition Delivery to Sen. Tom Carper, 8/31/06
http://wdel.com/video/?v=netneutrality.wmv
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO ABC NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com’s Recent Petition Delivery to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, 8/17/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO_xzki8fTc
6 NEW SENATORS CAME OUT FOR NET NEUTRALITY
Schumer statement
http://tinyurl.com/nshpu
Harkin statement:
http://harkin.senate.gov/issues/issues_sans_p.cfm?t=28
Jeffords statement:
http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/082006/JeffordsPetitions.shtml
Dayton joins event in support of Net Neutrality:
http://www.technologyevangelist.com/2006/08/senator_mark_dayton.html
Akaka statement:
http://tinyurl.com/g7prs
Kennedy statement – featured on front page of Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UlCXXZTTh8
See latest tally
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=senatetally
NATIONAL OVERVIEW
“National Outpouring of Support for Net Neutrality,” SaveTheInternet.com real-time blog of local media coverage
http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2006/08/31/national-outpouring-of-support-for-net-neutrality/
SavetheInternet.com Press Release, August 31, 2006:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=press13
“Net neutrality fans rally in 25 cities,” CNET, August 31, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/hq4zq
“Net Neutrality Wins More Senators,” WebProNews.com, September 1, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/h5o67
TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA
Sen. Mark Dayton came out for Net Neutrality and joined SaveTheInternet.com Coalition’s event on 8/30/06!
ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS ARTICLE
“Dayton Supports ‘Network Neutrality,’” St. Paul Pioneer Press, September 3, 2006
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/15420615.htm
VIDEO: Sen. Mark Dayton comes out for Net Neutrality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QinilRoqKFA
BLOG:
“Senator Mark Dayton Joins Fight for Network Neutrality,” Technology Evangelist, August 30, 2006
http://www.technologyevangelist.com/2006/08/senator_mark_dayton.html
PHOTO:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-dayton.jpg
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Sen. Schumer came out for Net Neutrality his state director personally accepted the petitions from the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition. Local residents thanked Schumer on 8/30/06.
PHOTOS:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-newyork2low.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-newyork.jpg http://kokovoko.net/transfer/8_30_06%20IN%209.jpg
http://kokovoko.net/transfer/8_30_06%20IN%203.jpg
http://kokovoko.net/transfer/8_30_06%20IN%202.jpg
http://kokovoko.net/transfer/8_30_06%20IN%208.jpg
http://kokovoko.net/transfer/8_30_06%20IN%201.jpg
VIDEOS
Pre-event set-up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WzA7J9nWWY
Speakers Rodger Parsons & Jessica Findley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiQ9Fyr74jM
Speaker Noel Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MZ8xGVLx7Q
NY State Director for Sen. Schumer accepts petitions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJZ5mU6MWU8
SCHUMER STATEMENT
http://tinyurl.com/nshpu
DES MOINES, IOWA
Sen. Harkin came out for Net Neutrality! This SaveTheInternet.com Coalition event thanked him on 8/30/06.
DES MOINES, IOWA NBC NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. Harkin, 8/30/06 – Watch video on the upper left.
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5346557&nav=2HAB
FULL VIDEO OF EVENT:
http://www.concussivemedia.com/rockiowa/moveon2.wmv
HARKIN STATEMENT:
http://harkin.senate.gov/issues/issues_sans_p.cfm?t=28
MONTPELIER, VERMONT
Sen. Jeffords came out for Net Neutrality! A SaveTheInternet.com Coalition event thanking him was held 8/31/06.
BURLINGTON, VERMONT, WCAX NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. James Jeffords, 8/31/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvl8XMFxLhs
VERMONT GUARDIAN ARTICLE
"Net activists focus on Jeffords," Vermont Guardian, Aug. 30, 2006
http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/082006/JeffordsPetitions.shtml
ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE:
“Jeffords urged to support 'net neutrality' says he does,” AP, August 31, 2006
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?s=5350936
PHOTOS FROM EVENT:
http://www.vpirg.org/action/savetheinternet.php
CHANNEL 17 COMMUNITY TELEVISION – STREAMING VIDEO OF EVENT:
http://real21mt.audiovideoweb.com/ramgen/avwebmt1257/netneutrality083106.rm
BLOG:
http://tinyurl.com/mja44
BUFFALO, NEW YORK
Sen. Schumer came out for Net Neutrality! This SaveTheInternet.com Coalition event thanked him on 8/30/06.
BUFFALO NEWS ARTICLE
"Internet legislation opposed," Buffalo News, August 31, 2006
http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060831/1024502.asp
RADIO – WBFO (NPR):
http://wnymedia.net/podcasts/wbfointerview.wma
PHOTO:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-buffalo.jpg
WNY MEDIA NETWORK POSTINGS:
http://wnypolitics.wnymedia.net/2006/08/29/support-net-neutrality-tomorrow/
http://wnyprogressreport.wnymedia.net/?p=691
http://www.redsbasement.wnymedia.net/?p=225
http://buffalopundit.wnymedia.net/archives/3749
http://www.wnymedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1952
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Blanche Lincoln on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
ABC NEWS - FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, 8/30/06
http://www.thehometownchannel.com/video/9766175/detail.html?taf=fts#
DENVER, COLORADO
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Ken Salazar on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
DENVER, COLORADO CBS NEWS
SaveTheInternet.com Petition Delivery to Sen. Salazar, 8/30/06 – Watch video in upper right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO6G2YgR6IA
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
"Nothing neutral about the Net, group says," Rocky Mountain News, August 30, 2006
http://www.freepress.net/news/17400
DENVER POST
"Group lobbies Salazar to back "net neutrality," Denver Post, August 31, 2006
http://www.freepress.net/news/17394
FROM DENVER POST: Leslie Weise of SaveTheInternet.com holds her 7-month-old son, Jamison, as she talks Wednesday about the group s opposition to deals giving certain companies special status on the Net. (Post / Jerry Cleveland)
DENVER POST
“Net Partners,” Denver Post August 30, 2006
http://www.freepress.net/news/17486
VIDEOS FROM EVENT:
Mother with baby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZjrOrzJZ3I
ACLU speaker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NSZq5IkGBs
PHOTOS:
http://tinyurl.com/ffctk (from Denver Post)
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-denver.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-denver2.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-denver3.jpg
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
Event delivering thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Tom Carper on 8/31/06, urging support for Net Neutrality
RADIO :
WILM Audio: http://tinyurl.com/nwsnh
Accompanying print story: http://tinyurl.com/l9gtg
HONOLULU, HAWAII
Event delivering thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Daniel Inouye on 8/31/06, thanking him for supporting for Net Neutrality
VIDEO:
http://tinyurl.com/gbntc
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Event delivering thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Mitch McConnell on 8/31/06, urging support for Net Neutrality
PHOTO:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-louisville.jpg
PORTLAND, MAINE
Event delivering thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Susan Collins on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality
MAINE PUBLIC RADIO – August 30, 2006
http://www.freepress.net/docs/mpbn_neutrality_event.mp3
PHOTO:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-maine1.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-portland2.jpg
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Barbara Mikulski on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
VIDEO OF SPEECHES FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tizx2gItUE0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXFl8vmmT20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FcGIwy1Wp0
VIDEO OF EVENT:
http://www.youtube.com/user/websuspect
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Ted Kennedy on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
AUDIO FROM EVENT:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/petition_drop_kennedy_s_.mp3
VIDEO FROM EVENT:
http://comacentral.com/Save%20The%20Internet.html
PHOTO FROM EVENT:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-boston.jpg
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Debbie Stabenow on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
VIDEO OF EVENT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrSpsdqPZZY
PHOTOS
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-detroit2.jpg
RADIO STORY:
Stabenow to hear from net neutrality group: An unusual coalition of groups usually considered liberal and conservative will converge today at noon at the Detroit office of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. The "SaveTheInternet.com Coalition," which numbers among its members groups as diverse as MoveOn.org, the Christian Coalition, Gun Owners of America and Common Cause, will deliver more than 18,000 petition signatures to Stabenow, seeking to preserve Net neutrality, in which the companies owning the pipelines of today's Internet can't decide to move their own content more quickly than everybody else's. The House voted on a bill that effectively eliminated Net neutrality. And the groups say Stabenow's could be the deciding vote in the Senate. "My phone or cable company should not be telling me which Web sites I can open on my computer," said Bruce Fealk, a resident of Rochester Hills who signed the online petition to preserve Net Neutrality. "Senator Stabenow has a choice -- she can take away Internet freedom by turning the Internet over to giant corporations or she can side with constituents by voting to preserve Net neutrality." More at www.savetheinternet.com.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
Event delivering thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Bob Menendez on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality
PHOTO:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-newark.jpg
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Jeff Bingaman on 8/17/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN ARTICLE
“Internet activists gather signatures,” Santa Fe New Mexican, August 17, 2006
http://www.savetheinternet.com/files/newmexican8.17.06.pdf
RADIO
KSFR-FM on Net Neutrality, August 17, 2006
www.savetheinternet.com/audio/060817_KSFR_NM_BingamanDelivery.mp3
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Jeff Bingaman on 8/17/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
ABC NEWS – ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
SaveTheInternet.com’s Recent Petition Delivery to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, 8/17/06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO_xzki8fTc
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL ARTICLE
“Jeff Bingaman Asked to Back 'Net Neutrality' in Congress,” Albuquerque Journal, August 19, 2006
http://www.freepress.net/news/17214
RADIO
“Diverse Organizations Unite To Save Net Neutrality,” KUNM-FM, New Mexico Public Broadcasting, August 17, 2006
http://kunm.org/news/view.php?id=EEVyEpEukEmxdErpnA
PHOTOS:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-newmexico.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/albuevent.jpg
Gary Maricle, online small business owner, sells New Mexico chili at www.NMchili.com
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Mike DeWine on 8/31/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
BLOG
Join MoveOn and SaveTheInternet To Pressure DeWine On Net Neutrality (Action Item)
http://www.plunderbund.com/?p=951
PHOTOS:
http://www.teammachine.net/NetNeutrality/pages/IMG_4994_jpg.htm
http://www.teammachine.net/NetNeutrality/index.htm
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Lincoln Chaffee on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
BLOG
http://lyzard.blogs.com/hiptop/2006/08/net_neutrality_.html
PHOTOS
http://flickr.com/photos/danzman/sets/72157594260592543/
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-providence.jpg
MADISON, WISCONSIN
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Herb Kohl on 8/31/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
THE CAPITAL TIMES ARTICLE
"Kohl may be key to Internet neutrality," The Capital Times (Madison, WI), August 31, 2006
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/index.php?ntid=96988&ntpid=0
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO:
http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/news/news060901gh.rm
WISCONSIN RADIO NETWORK:
“A call on Kohl to defend net neutrality,” August 31, 2006
http://www.wrn.com/mp3/netnu083106.mp3
BLOG PROMO:
http://www.dane101.com/current/2006/08/30/tell_kohl_to_support_net_neutrality
PHOTOS:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-madison2.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-madison1.jpg
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-madisone.jpg
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Patty Murray on 8/31/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
SPOKATE REVIEW ARTICLE
"Net Bill Opposed," Spokane Review, September 1, 2006
http://www.freepress.net/news/17449
PHOTO:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-spokane.jpg
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Local residents in the SaveTheInternet.com Coalition delivered thousands of petition signatures to Sen. Patty Murray on 8/30/06, urging support for Net Neutrality.
SEATTLE TIMES ONLINE ARTICLE:
"Citizens campaign for net neutrality," Seattle Times, August 29, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/ng3sl
PHOTOS:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/sti-seattle.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/groups/41904389@N00/
