Media Center

Common Cause is part of a coalition of groups urging a federal appeals court to overturn a Federal Communications Commission decision that threatens the survival of minority-owned media outlets.

Today, the FCC’s repeal of its 2015 net neutrality rules was published in the Federal Register. Common Cause Special Advisor Michael Copps issued the following statement.

Common Cause is pleased to announce that Yosef Getachew has joined Common Cause as the Director of the Media and Democracy Program. Getachew will work hand-in-glove with former FCC Commissioner & Common Cause Special Advisor Michael Copps and lead campaigns to engage the public and policy makers on key initiatives including promoting an open internet, fostering competition in the media marketplace, and ensuring broadband access for all Americans.

Donald Trump's Chairman, Ajit Pai, has recklessly ignored the tens of millions of Americans who know that affordable access to the Open Internet is essential to life in the 21st century. Today's vote is a body blow for self-expression and self-governance. And the tainted process of ignoring tens of thousands of consumer net neutrality complaints makes the FCC action illegitimate.

This may well be the last gasp of the open internet, as big telecom’s majority as the FCC decrees instead the Gate-keeper’s Internet—a shadowy world of monopoly, commercialism, and conspiracy in restraint of democracy that totally subverts the promise of what might have been.

The reckless wrecking ball strikes again. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s scorched-earth plan for net neutrality displays callous disregard for both process and substance. The Chairman’s plan to do away with net neutrality will be a disaster for consumers and yet another handout for big business.