FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2017
Media contact: Mark Stanley, [email protected], 202.681.7582
The Team Internet campaign—organized by Demand Progress, Free Press Action Fund, and Fight for the Future—is using revolutionary distributed organizing tactics and peer-to-peer technology to support in-person activism across the country.
- An unprecedented number of in-person constituent meetings are taking place across the country — 7,000 people have signed up to be special volunteers and nearly 4,000 people have committed to visiting lawmakers’ in-district offices and to attend town halls to express support for Net Neutrality.
- These meetings and town halls are directly impacting the policy debate in Washington, as lawmakers are seeing and hearing from constituents who are willing to speak about the impact of Net Neutrality on their lives and to advocate for strong Title II rules.
- So far, Team Internet volunteers have spoken with 200 Members of Congress or their staffs.
In late July, on the heels of the Day of Action to save Net Neutrality, Demand Progress, Free Press Action Fund and Fight for the Future announced the launch of Team Internet. By utilizing a distributed-organizing model—which puts volunteers in direct contact with each other and encourages them to lead organizing efforts—Team Internet has mobilized an unprecedented number of activists in just two months, with no signs of slowing.
In early September, Team Internet activist Edward Platt, a Phd student in the School of Information at the University of Michigan, organized a meeting with the in-district office of Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), in which 15 Team Internet activists turned up to talk about Net Neutrality.
”I grew up in a working class family with a father who is a mechanic. Net Neutrality matters to me due to the way a free and open Internet has allowed me to engage with information and experiences beyond my home life,” said Platt.
An in-district meeting at the office of Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), organized by Edward Platt (bottom right).
Across the country, Team Internet volunteers like Platt are meeting with lawmakers, turning up at rallies, attending mass calls and coordinating with other activists in ways they’ve never before been able to do.
“There are so many crucial issues people are engaging in right now, from healthcare to advocating for racial justice. At the end of the day, folks know if their free speech is curtailed because we don’t have strong Net Neutrality protections, organizing on these issues will be extremely difficult,” said Demand Progress Director of Operations and Communications Mark Stanley.
“We’re seeing an unprecedented number of activists take time out of their busy lives to meet with lawmakers and their staff on this issue. Net Neutrality is vital for our civil discourse, our democracy and organizing on issues that impact people’s daily lives, and people are willing to fight for it now more than ever,” said Stanley.
“Wherever you go, you can feel the energy and enthusiasm for Net Neutrality. Students, doctors, software engineers, lawyers and more are volunteering their time because they want a free and open internet. They’re gathering at lawmakers’ offices, protesting outside of speeches by FCC Chairman Pai, taking part in conference calls to learn more about the connections between Net Neutrality and racial justice, and connecting online and off to plan their next steps,” said Free Press Field Director Mary Alice Crim. “From Oakland to Lincoln to Washington, DC, their message is: We won’t accept anything less than real Net Neutrality.”
”For decades, communications policy was decided in closed door meetings between lawmakers and lobbyists from giant corporations. Team Internet seeks to change that forever, by using the free and open Internet to connect and empower people,” said Fight for the Future organizer Laila Abdelaziz.
”People from a wide range of political perspectives are joining Team Internet to defend Title II net neutrality because these rules are the First Amendment of the Internet. If we don’t stop the FCC from allowing blocking, throttling, and new fees online, we stand to lose so much of our freedom and power,” Abdelaziz added.
Team Internet member Eric Fisher with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), attending a town hall to discuss Net Neutrality.
Some highlights from Team Internet—as well as photos and videos from Team Internet activists—include:
- 7,000 people signing up to call and text other volunteers, and to join the Team Internet Slack channel—a free messaging service that is integral to communications among activists—to plan and strategize with a network of pro-Net Neutrality individuals across the country.
Drop-in meeting at the in-district office of Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), taken by Team Internet activist Alice Ard.
- 450 people committing to lead pro-Net Neutrality events attended by their fellow community members — namely visits to their Member of Congress’ in-district offices to discuss why Title II, the legal foundation necessary for strong Net Neutrality protections, matters to them.
Team Internet activists Justin Butcher (left) and Christopher Schreiner (right) meet with Rudy Cota at the office of Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
Team Internet drop-in meeting at the in-district office of Rep. John Larson (D-CT).
- Team Internet volunteers speaking to 200 Members of Congress or their staffs so far about the need for strong Title II Net Neutrality rules.
Screenshot of video of Team Internet member Lia Holland asking Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) about Net Neutrality at a town hall.
Screenshot of video of Rep. David Price (D-NC) at a townhall, answering a question from a Team Internet activist about Net Neutrality (question starts at 1:19:40).
- Nearly 4,000 commitments from activists to attend drop-ins at Congressional offices and town halls.
Team Internet volunteers, including Stacey DePolo (right), at a meeting with Sean Elsbernd, state director for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
- 600 sign-ups to attend a live video conference call on the importance of centering the fight for racial equity in efforts to save Net Neutrality. The call was livestreamed on Facebook and reached thousands of viewers.
- Helping drive over 100 people to a rally for Net Neutrality in San Francisco on September 12th, outside an event in which FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was speaking. Allies at CREDO organized the rally and made it clear people want Pai to stop attacking the free and open internet.
Two photos taken by Charles Moehle at a September 12th rally in San Francisco. CREDO organized the action, and Team Internet helped drive attendance to the rally.
- Driving over 200 RSVPs from the surrounding Washington, DC area, for a Net Neutrality Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on September 27th, organized by Public Knowledge.
Kirk Leonard, a Team Internet member, coordinated one event at the office of Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), which drew 22 local net neutrality supporters. Leonard followed the visit by publishing a letter in the Statesman Journal, in which he noted:
“I had a chance to ask Rep. Kurt Schrader a question and to meet with his staff about [efforts to repeal Title II Net Neutrality]. These occasions have caused me concern. Rep. Schrader responded ‘Title II is for telephones,’ a trite truism that reflects nothing of the principle of the law – required provision of universal, equal telecommunications access for all people by common carriers like phone, cable and wireless companies.”
Screenshot of video of Rep. John Faso (R-NY) answering a question from a Team Internet member on Net Neutrality.
Team Internet volunteers show no signs of stopping, and are continuing to organize meetings, drop-ins, and other events as the fight for Net Neutrality continues into the Fall.
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