If we don't act quickly, Congressman Bobby Rush — a longtime opponent of a free and open Internet — could become a key leader on the House panel in charge of telecommunications. It could spell disaster for net neutrality.
Net neutrality matters because the internet is one of the few ways left for ordinary people to make their views heard in a national forum. Organizations, coalitions and individuals from underserved and underrepresented groups can use the web to get their issues and voices heard. If content from large corporations gets priority, what happens to these voices? Moreover, underprivileged populations won't be able to afford to pay more for access to full content, creating classes of information haves and have-nots.
Congressman Rush has repeatedly supported the interests of the telecommunications industry over the interests of regular people, and he has been a fierce opponent of network neutrality. In 2006, Rush worked with Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) to kill a key network neutrality amendment. And in the last year, he has supported multiple efforts by Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) to prevent the FCC from instituting network neutrality rules. In addition, Rush has been a major recipient of telecom contributions.
The new Republican majority is certain to continue to assault Internet freedom — and the House Communications, Technology and the Internet (CTI) Subcommittee is the first line of defense. Letting Rush assume leadership in the CTI Subcommittee would a send a message that Congressional Democrats just aren't serious about Internet freedom. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the ability to influence leadership assignments, and she should know that Rep. Rush is not fit to lead the committee with power over network neutrality.
Can you call Speaker Pelosi today and urge her to oppose Bobby Rush's bid for this key position? Call Speaker Pelosi at (202) 225-0100.
Here's a sample script you can use:
I'm calling to ask Speaker Pelosi to oppose Bobby Rush's bid to become ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. CTI needs a leader who will stand up for an open Internet, but Congressman Rush's record shows that he's the wrong person for the job.
After you've called, please click to let Color of Change know how it went.
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