The same group that brought us the strong message from Senator Al Franken calling net neutrality the "free speech issue of our time," the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) and NoSlowLane.com, is keeping up the pressure against "fast lanes." This time, they're targeting a younger audience.

A new video released by the group is less about gravitas and more about explaining what possible upcoming controversial changes in the Federal Communications Commission's Open Internet policy could mean for the future. The video, created by animation studio Pixel Valley Studio, is set in "the year 2084," when, naturally, the population of Earth has turned into characters from the video game Team Fortress 2.

The video, called "2084 Calling," is set in a dystopian future where the Internet is tiered for large corporations and everybody else, where the top tier "fast lane" of the Internet allows quick delivery of whatever product the corporations want to put out. For everyone else, the speeds are like "the laggiest video game you've ever played."

"In the slow lane are all the destinations that couldn't afford to compete with the big corporations for premium service," warns the female character, who takes us through a tour of the future of the tiered Internet, one PCCC envisions will take shape if the FCC is allowed to move forward with its new proposed Open Internet rules that permit deals between content providers and ISPs for "paid preference".

"That kills the startups and competition. Innovation dried up," remembers the solemn tour guide. "And all we have left is the junk that the big corporations want us to see. We're stuck here, but your time, you can still do something to change this."


The progressive group sent the new video out to its nearly 1 million members nationwide on Friday, in a new push to get people to sign their petition demanding that the FCC protect the principle of net neutrality. More than 140,000 supporters have signed so far. The PCCC also points out that President Obama promised during his 2008 campaign that he would only appoint FCC commissioners that supported net neutrality, and has since distanced himself from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

Previously, the PCCC released a video message from Senator Al Franken, one of the chief opponents of the new FCC rules, sternly calling net neutrality the "free speech issue of our time."


Meanwhile, a collection of Silicon Valley giants and startups, along with myriad advocacy groups, including Hispanic watchdogs and organizations, have voiced their opposition to the FCC's planned action and their support for net neutrality.

Last week, the FCC voted to move forward in the process of adopting the new Open Internet rules, amid controversy and protests, inside and outside of the FCC's building. Part of that process is a 120-day comment period where the public is welcome to make on-the-record comments. It's been more than a week since, so the clock is ticking.

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