In case you haven’t heard, the open and creative character of the internet is under threat in Europe.
This Thursday, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee of the European Parliament will vote on the European Commission’s Telecoms Single Market proposal. As written, the proposal includes provisions that would undermine net neutrality and establish an internet where discrimination is the default setting. Unless the IMCO Committee stands up for net neutrality, ISPs will be given the power to decide which innovations and online content users get to enjoy.
Tell your MEP: Stand up and protect my internet!
The European Parliament has a unique opportunity to preserve the open and neutral internet -- its boldness, creativity, and diversity. In the absence of net neutrality rules, the success of innovative new technology companies, artists, and writers will not depend on their own creativity, but instead on whether they get permission to reach internet users from big telcos like Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, and Orange.
It’s up to us to make sure the founding principles of the open internet aren't crushed by big telcos. Rules must be put into place that ensure telcos and ISPs treat all internet traffic equally, no matter what it is, where it came from, or where it was going. Without these rules in place, telcos across Europe would be free to carve up the open internet.
Take action today: Tell your MEP to protect an open and neutral internet!
Internet users and entrepreneurs stand only to lose from online "pay-to-play" arrangements. in some member states, such as Germany and Spain, telcos are already undermining net freedom by providing preferential treatment to their own services. This Regulation, if not amended, would make this exception the rule across the entire continent. The IMCO committee must stop ISPs from restricting innovation and creativity. If the telcos get their way, artists won’t reach new audiences, writers won’t reach readers, and new online services will never reach their customers unless they pay ISPs first.
We need your help to protect the open and neutral internet. Access is part of a European coalition that launched savetheinternet.eu, where you can learn more about the Commission's Telecoms Single Market proposal, how the proposal could violate our civil liberties and what you can do to protect internet freedom.
MEPs must take action to protect the internet we know and love. Click here to tell them Europeans need action, and we need it right now.
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