We, the undersigned, urge political party leaders in the United States to adopt platform positions that respect and defend the critical role of an open Internet in all aspects of American life.

 

The explosion of Internet access that has occurred over the last two decades has allowed billions of people around the world to use this vital communications medium to express themselves, communicate with others, innovate new technologies, and engage in previously unheard-of forms of commerce. This time has been unlike any other period in human history. The United States has played a critical role in facilitating an open and free-flowing Internet since its inception. But today, numerous entities, special interests, and governments routinely challenge the open nature of the Internet, and threaten its very essence.

 

The Internet’s role in the lives of Americans, and of people worldwide, cannot be overstated. It deserves explicit protection and recognition in the platforms of our political parties; in fact, such a statement is long overdue. We hope that in the long term, we can drive our national political discourse toward a more robust discussion of ways to protect and nurture an open and equal Internet that protects innovation and job creation, while fostering individual civil liberties in the United States.

 

We therefore urge political parties to explicitly adopt positions that protect and foster an open Internet that equally respects the rights of ordinary users, as well as the thousands of companies and organizations who rely on this platform everyday. We further urge American political parties to clearly reject efforts to censor the Internet and engage in unwarranted surveillance of its users -- and to do so in writing.

 

We believe that creating and maintaining an environment that allows an open and accessible Internet is crucial to American prosperity and security. It is also the right thing to do. We look forward to working with American political leaders on this important issue for years to come.

 

Sincerely,

 

Alliance for Community Media

Center for Democracy and Technology

Center for Media and Democracy

Cheezburger.com

Communication is Your Right!

Defending Dissent Foundation

Demand Progress

Democrats.com

Don't Censor the Net

DownsizeDC.org, Inc. 

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Engine Advocacy

Fight for the Future

Free Press Action Fund

Internet Archive

Liberty Coalition

May First/People Link Director Jamie McClelland

Mozilla Corporation

Participatory Politics Foundation

People's Production House 

PolitiHacks

Progressive Democrats of America

Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian

Roots Action

Startup Weekend

War Is A Crime