Netpolicy/Net neutrality

The open Internet is at the center of our economy and our daily lives. Net neutrality is the principle that all communications on the Internet should be treated equally, and not blocked, throttled, or prioritized for commercial gain.

Background

• Net neutrality: Wikipedia description
• In the United States, the FCC adopted rules to protect net neutrality in 2010, which in January 2014 were struck down by the D.C. Circuit.
• The European Parliament passed strong net neutrality rules in April, 2014 which will now be debated in the European Commission.
• Brazil followed several other countries in Latin America and adopted net neutrality through its passage of Marco Civil.

Mozilla history on NN

• Mitchell Baker and John Lilly wrote in the Wall Street Journal in 2009 laying out the fundamental importance of net neutrality for the Internet and entrepreneurship.
• In 2009, Mozilla filed comments with the FCC as it developed rules to protect the Open Internet.
• In January 2014, when the D.C. Circuit sent down the FCC's open Internet order, Mozilla called it "alarming for all Internet users."
• Mozilla has also actively supported net neutrality advocacy in Colombia and in Brazil.

FCC Petition

In May 2014, Mozilla submitted a request to the FCC to adopt real net neutrality protections, relying on Title II of the Communications Act to overcome the legal obstacles put in place by the January D.C. Circuit decision. For more:

• Mozilla FCC petition
• Mozilla Open Policy blog post

Selected media coverage of the petition:

• GigaOm: Mozilla's crazy plan to fix net neutrality
• Fast Company magazine FAQ with Chris Riley
• National Journal: Mozilla Has a Plan to Save Net Neutrality
• CNET: Mozilla: We have a fix for net neutrality
• Ars Technica: Mozilla offers FCC a net neutrality plan - with a twist