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The WGAE represents content creators – people who write programs for the internet and other digital distribution systems (e.g., to mobile devices). We have argued in favor of Net Neutrality because our members want the opportunity to reach audiences directly, without major studios and other large corporations deciding what to distribute. But what about the audience? The public? Why should they care about Net Neutrality?
For the same reason: the internet provides an unprecedented opportunity for people to experience the widest possible range of programming. Not just shows that make money for networks and studios. Programming made by independent creators – indie films, off-beat comedies, short-form mysteries, programs that address important niche audiences who aren’t well-served by the current media conglomerates. Programming that presents unique viewpoints on important public issues such as race, sexuality, immigration, the economy.
If Net Neutrality fails, if a handful of large corporations effectively decide what people watch on the internet, these independent voices will not be heard. The culture and the nation will be the poorer for it.
There is an important aspect to the Net Neutrality debate that people should keep in mind: “paid prioritization”. This would permit Internet Service Providers to set up channels where content flows faster and with better quality. People are far more likely to watch programs on those fast lanes, rather than waiting for pokey downloads and suffering through images and sounds that stutter or freeze. Net Neutrality must apply to the entire internet. And that includes wireless digital distribution as well as wired.
With an FCC vote scheduled for December 21st, the future of Net Neutrality is uncertain. If the FCC chooses to abandon the principles of Net Neutrality an even stronger social movement will be needed to find other ways of protecting the open internet, be they legislative or otherwise.
It’s time for Net Neutrality advocates to redouble our efforts to court web video watchers, indie film fans and people who love web comedy sites to take action. These are the people who rely on the unbridled content of the open internet.
And it’s not just fanboys/girls who are tuning in. In fact, over 70% of internet users world-wide watch online video (A Global Nielsen Consumer Report). If even a fraction of those viewers understood what was at stake in terms of entertainment value alone, we’d be in a better position to win this fight.
The WGAE is not the first group to take the Net Neutrality campaign to YouTube, but please watch our new PSA by member Axel Giminez. He is one of the independent creators who depend on an open internet. I don’t want to imagine a world without stop-motion-animated absurdist videos and I hope you don’t either (watch the video)! Please join us in sending a message to the President by visiting WGAEast.org/SaveTheInternet. Let him know that viewers want him to act to preserve REAL Net Neutrality.
7 Comments
Free your packets, and your ass will follow.
“net neutrality” will fail, because it’s way too late to prevent telco control over the pols who write laws. consumers already understand why net neutrality is important, and why letting big telcos and other media giants determine what we can watch is wrong. ask anyone with a netflix ‘script (millions, at those point) or who downloads “illegal” videos and music, or even people who want to look at not-for-profit lol cat blogs and other silly stuff that takes up “too much” internet tube space which their provider can block or slow down.
there are hardly any regular ‘net users who have not at this point already experienced how fucked up it is, and how much worse it’s getting. the point at which it will change: when upper middle class shoppers aren’t allowed to instantly order spendy imported shoes or bling, because their hubbies/kids/whatever forgot to “upgrade” to the “next level” of internet service from their providers, at a higher price, of course. and even then, it may not be enough.
i looked at my mom’s cable/internet/phone bill recently; i was f*cking shocked. she pays an ungodly amount for her “special” cable services (football package, premium channel, etc). but then again, she is a wealthy university med school prof. people like me? paying for “upgraded” media services went out the window a loooong time ago. i have found that just as i can “live without” cable, i can also live without “instant internet video on demand.” sure, that’s all very nice to have. and it was, in the 90s, when jobs were plentiful and i had a savings account and health care. but today? sorry, food and shelter come first, and i’m too busy working my 3.5 half-pay jobs to have much time for more than a DVD for half an hour before i pass out with exhaustion before bedtime.
as more amurkins join my ranks, and realize that TV didn’t really make them happy or their lives better, and in fact mostly lied to them, well. TPTB are foolish to let this change. the Glowing Box is mostly the only thing keeping this country from turning into Greece, or the student unions of Great Britain. unemployed, or starving, or homeless people who don’t have a pretty distraction that makes sexy noises and images for them to stare at all day? what more do they have to do but burn stuff and throw bricks in bank windows?
honestly, i’m sort of surprised the strategists for the corporate overlord class aren’t aware of this, but then again, they live in a different world, and they hardly ever encounter poor people. they also think we’re not very many, despite the actual numerical reality. it will be fun to show them otherwise.
I just upgraded to 3.0 MBPS from 1.5, due to ongoing screen freeze issues. only 10 bucks a month. sheesh
Also, bought a cable subscription from Comcast to appease my roomate who can’t live without HDTV…
so I’m totally feeding the big media beast. ah well. the irony is now that I’m paying for it (as opposed to the juiced cable I had for years), actually watch alot less.
Obama and the corporate Dems don’t want net neutrality so it won’t happen. Just like the repeal of DADT. For some reason they think they can continue to lie to us and we’ll just continue to believe their lies. I, for one, am mightily sick of being treated like I have an I.Q. in the mid 70s.
People are upset about being required by law to tithe to the banksters for some lame its-just-a-piece-of-paper instead of the real thing called health care. But, they have no problem voluntarily tithing to the tel-sat-cos for bread and circus?
Another Email Campaign?!? I mean, isn’t history, especially the recent history of the Democratic party, enough to teach us that these sort of letter-writing campaigns, do nothing but make the writers feel good? Because, sure as shit, no one in power is going to give a good goddamn about a bunch of emails, or snail mails.
They don’t care about our voice. This is fruitless action. Try canceling you Verizon or AT&T cell-phone and data accounts, and let them know why; That’s at least going to hurt them where they’ll feel it.
Well, that underscores the problem, right? People need more staying power and focus. If they give up just because it now appears that Genachowski might push through a policy that does not expressly prohibit paid prioritization, then how can we build a movement of people committed to the long haul?