At the Federal Communications Commission's meeting on Thursday, taking the first step towards controversial new Open Internet rules, it seemed no one on either side of the political spectrum — inside or outside of the building — was entirely satisfied by the proposal. Nevertheless, the FCC voted to advance the process of adopting new rules that may drastically reshape the way the Internet works.

The FCC has been the subject of intense criticism in proposing new Open Internet rules to replace the 2010 net neutrality-friendly Open Internet regulatory structure that was struck down by a federal appeals court in January of this year. The new proposal, now in its second draft after several high profile critiques from IT companies and advocacy groups in the past few weeks, is different from the 2010 rules in an important way: it allows paid arrangements between companies and internet service providers for better quality of service as long as those deals are not "commercially unreasonable."

The idea of ISPs being allowed to give preferential treatment to any data — much less for pay — is antithetical to net neutrality's central idea that "all data should be treated equally." Critics have worried that discarding this principal would allow ISPs to create a "fast lane" for sites and services that can afford it, putting the democratic nature of the Internet at risk, which is why the FCC has been flooded with phone calls and emails recently, why demonstrators have been camped outside the FCC for days, and why Thursday's meeting began with a protester shouting and being escorted out of the room.

Email the FCC at openinternet@fcc.gov or call 1-888-225-5322 (CALL FCC) or submit your comment online here to make your opinion on the Open Internet and net neutrality part of the public record.

You can also email each FCC member directly though not part of the on-record public comment system:

Chairman Tom Wheeler: Tom.Wheeler@fcc.gov
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov
Commissioner Ajit Pai: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael O'Rielly: Mike.O'Rielly@fcc.gov

Check out FCC.gov/leadership for each Commissioner's social media address -- if that's your thing.

And/or send physical mail to this address:

Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554

Whatever your take on the situation, make this a priority because you've only got 120 days to be heard.

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