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What power do I, as a citizen have to affect change in the FCC? Short of violence is there anything to do other than wait four years and elect a president who

by plandis 10y ago

What power do I, as a citizen have to affect change in the FCC? Short of violence is there anything to do other than wait four years and elect a president who will put someone not so blatantly against consumers?

rhino369 10y ago
You can elect congressmen in 2018 that could codify Net Neutrality as law instead of a regulation. Trump would probably veto, but with a sufficient margin you could override it. Administrative regulations aren't really democratic. Easy come, easy go.
- germinalphrase 10y ago
  Further, there is redistricting in 2020 so the 2018 elections will be particularly important.
kd5bjo 10y ago
Domestic policy is really Congress's responsibility, but they've granted a lot of regulatory authority to the executive in the past few decades. You can lobby them to take back some of that authority and do something sensible with it.
jdc 10y ago
You can fund lawyers and lobbyists like the ACLU does.
- r00fus 10y ago
  So voting with my wallet? That's great, but that sounds like a losing battle compared to the funds that Comcast/Verizon/AT&T can muster to dismantle regulation and increase profits...
jwcooper 10y ago
In addition to the other suggestions, you could become a recurring donor to the EFF. https://supporters.eff.org/donate/button https://supporters.eff.org/donate/button
- plandis 10y ago
  I already am for both the EFFand the ACLU
doctorshady 10y ago
Contribute to Public Knowledge; the EFF and ACLU are good in their own rights, but PK has attorneys representing a consumer-friendly stance in pretty much every major FCC proceeding. They're the best suited for this fight. As for Pai, do you remember how much pressure Wheeler had on him? When he wanted to do halfassed net neutrality rules, people were furious. Like, confronting him in his driveway furious. That same spirit needs to be kept here; apathy is going to fuck us pretty hard. Also, find any FCC proceedings dealing with net neutrality as an issue, and file a comment; explain to them why striking down net neutrality is a bad idea. When they have commission meetings, they have to elaborate on why they didn't choose a certain way of doing things, and the more people who file comments, the harder that'll be. That makes it more likely for them to try and push the Communications Act rewrite the Republican party is planning through the Senate, which can still likely be filibustered. Just remember though; a lot of the FCC employees are probably having the same bleak thoughts we are right now. We need to make it known they're not alone.
ChefDenominator 10y ago
Support a republic instead of an empire.
dangjc 10y ago
Our main ability to control things happens during elections, but we can debate and become informed in the meantime. Debate and inform your friends and family who are on the fence too. Hopefully by election time, there won't be so many undecideds about the right candidate to vote for.

by plandis 10y ago

rhino369 10y ago

You can elect congressmen in 2018 that could codify Net Neutrality as law instead of a regulation. Trump would probably veto, but with a sufficient margin you could override it. Administrative regulations aren't really democratic. Easy come, easy go.

germinalphrase 10y ago
Further, there is redistricting in 2020 so the 2018 elections will be particularly important.

kd5bjo 10y ago

Domestic policy is really Congress's responsibility, but they've granted a lot of regulatory authority to the executive in the past few decades. You can lobby them to take back some of that authority and do something sensible with it.

jdc 10y ago

You can fund lawyers and lobbyists like the ACLU does.

r00fus 10y ago
So voting with my wallet? That's great, but that sounds like a losing battle compared to the funds that Comcast/Verizon/AT&T can muster to dismantle regulation and increase profits...

jwcooper 10y ago

In addition to the other suggestions, you could become a recurring donor to the EFF. https://supporters.eff.org/donate/button https://supporters.eff.org/donate/button

plandis 10y ago
I already am for both the EFFand the ACLU

doctorshady 10y ago

Contribute to Public Knowledge; the EFF and ACLU are good in their own rights, but PK has attorneys representing a consumer-friendly stance in pretty much every major FCC proceeding. They're the best suited for this fight. As for Pai, do you remember how much pressure Wheeler had on him? When he wanted to do halfassed net neutrality rules, people were furious. Like, confronting him in his driveway furious. That same spirit needs to be kept here; apathy is going to fuck us pretty hard. Also, find any FCC proceedings dealing with net neutrality as an issue, and file a comment; explain to them why striking down net neutrality is a bad idea. When they have commission meetings, they have to elaborate on why they didn't choose a certain way of doing things, and the more people who file comments, the harder that'll be. That makes it more likely for them to try and push the Communications Act rewrite the Republican party is planning through the Senate, which can still likely be filibustered. Just remember though; a lot of the FCC employees are probably having the same bleak thoughts we are right now. We need to make it known they're not alone.

ChefDenominator 10y ago

Support a republic instead of an empire.

dangjc 10y ago

Our main ability to control things happens during elections, but we can debate and become informed in the meantime. Debate and inform your friends and family who are on the fence too. Hopefully by election time, there won't be so many undecideds about the right candidate to vote for.