| Internet Slow Down Day is Here |
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By: Jessica Cherok |
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 It’s Internet Slow Down Day! The day where the Internet won’t actually be any slower, but your awareness will be raised about that possibility. Hopefully.
Several websites — such as Netflix, Reddit, Etsy, Upworthy, and Vimeo — will prominently display the Spinning Wheel of Death (also known as the loading symbol) to promote awareness around net neutrality. The Federal Trade Commission is currently in the process of deciding legislation that could create so-called “Internet fast lanes” for companies who pay higher prices to broadband providers.
Cable and phone companies have been lobbying the FCC to allow particular types of web content (i.e. content that pays more) be treated differently than other content. Net neutrality, on the other hand, means that all content would be treated the same.
Internet Slow Down Day will run until midnight, and hopefully encourage people and companies to comment on the FCC Proposed Rule, which is open for public comment until September 15. According to Free Press, one of the companies leading the campaign:
“On Sept. 10, the sites for dozens of major tech companies and thousands of organizations will display a slow-loading icon to give people a taste of what the Internet could look like without Net Neutrality. Clicking the icons will take Internet users to a series of actions at battleforthenet.com/september10th. The main push: to get Congress to stand up for the open Internet.”
For more information about how you can support net neutrality, visit Free Press’s blog.
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Jessica Cherok is an advocate for online privacy, campaigning for ethical data practices and the protection of personal privacy.
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