Automattic strongly believes in a free and open Web and it’s onerous to think about a very open Web with out Internet Neutrality.
What Is Internet Neutrality?
“Internet Neutrality” is the easy however very highly effective precept that each one Web site visitors must be handled equally. Whether or not you’re studying a weblog submit on WordPress.com, streaming Sport of Thrones on HBO GO, or searching handcrafted tea cozies on Etsy, your Web service supplier delivers the Web to you on the similar pace, with out blocking, throttling, or charging further tolls primarily based on the content material you’re viewing. You possibly can be taught extra about Internet Neutrality and why it’s vital by visiting battleforthenet.com.
Internet Neutrality provides all on-line companies, massive and small, an opportunity to succeed in clients and succeed. It additionally protects vital free speech rights on-line by prohibiting Web suppliers from slowing or blocking websites or messages they don’t agree with.
Internet Neutrality means an Web the place companies, merchandise, and concepts thrive or fail primarily based on their very own advantage — not on whether or not they have a most well-liked deal in place with a broadband service supplier.
We expect that is the best way the Web ought to work, and the U.S. Federal Communications Fee (FCC) agreed once they adopted their landmark Open Internet Order in 2015, enshrining Internet Neutrality into legislation.
The talk main as much as the Order’s adoption noticed scores of Web corporations (like Automattic) and tens of millions of Web customers – together with the President of the United States – arise towards highly effective cable monopolies, and in help of sturdy Internet Neutrality protections. Our voices received an vital victory for the open Web.
However…
Internet Neutrality is Underneath Assault, Once more
In Might 2017, underneath the very deceptive moniker: “Restoring Web Freedom,” the FCC, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, proposed to repeal the favored Internet Neutrality guidelines. Although tens of millions of Web customers help the principles, highly effective cable and Web suppliers would really like nothing greater than to repeal them, in order that they will act as paid gatekeepers of what we see on-line. Certainly, with out Internet Neutrality, the Web would look much more like cable TV, the place the content material you see is what your cable supplier is paid to place in entrance of you.
We’ve to cease that from occurring.
Take Motion to Shield Internet Neutrality
July 12 is an Web-wide day of motion in help of Internet Neutrality. Should you share our love of the free and open Web and need to be part of the struggle to protect it, please take part!
Please take a second right now to assist by:
(1) sending a message of help to the FCC, which you are able to do by visiting battleforthenet.com and
(2) enabling the Struggle for Internet Neutrality Plugin in your WordPress web site, to point out your help and encourage others to take motion, too. Directions for putting in the plugin in your web site are under.
Struggle for Internet Neutrality on Your WordPress Website
For at the present time of motion, we’ve constructed a “Struggle for Internet Neutrality” plugin that you could allow now in your WordPress web site to point out help for this vital trigger.
For WordPress.com websites:
Flip the plugin on by going to your Settings tab in your dashboard. On the high of the Settings menu, you will note a toggle swap – flip it to on (blue) to allow the Internet Neutrality plugin:
For WordPress websites (not hosted on WordPress.com):
First, go to the WordPress.org plugin listing to obtain and set up the Internet Neutrality Plugin – here.
Then, as soon as put in in your web site, go to your wp-admin, Settings > Struggle for Internet Neutrality, and allow the plugin, like so:
No matter the place you host your WordPress – enabling the plugin will exchange just a few of the posts in your web site with a “Nonetheless Loading” spinner…to point out what life will probably be like on an Web with out Internet Neutrality, that options dreaded sluggish lanes.
The plugin may even show a banner that reveals your help for Internet Neutrality, and hyperlinks to battleforthenet.com, the place guests to your web site can ship a letter to the FCC about this vital difficulty.
After the day of motion, the plugin will robotically disable, and your web site will return to regular.
Collectively we will make a distinction, and we hope you’ll be part of us on this vital battle for the open Web!
Filed underneath: Admin Bar 
