May 13, 2014
The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street SW Washington, D.C. 20554
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
We are writing to express our strong support for an open Internet. We are showrunners and creators of television and original Internet programs, and members of the Writers Guild of America, West.
The open Internet is the greatest technological catalyst to participatory democracy and free speech since the printing press. That’s why totalitarian states around the world try to control it.
There are two basic directions that the Internet can go, and the choice is in the FCC’s hands.
Currently, the open Internet works like the phone lines. Consumers can call whomever they want; nobody gets to limit who they can call. Likewise, consumers choose where they want to go on the Internet; no content can be given preferential treatment by their Internet provider.
If Net Neutrality is neutered, the Internet will become like cable television. A few corporate gatekeepers such as Comcast will be allowed to decide what content consumers can access and on what terms. The danger is that blocking, discrimination and paid prioritization could occur.
This puts decision making and power over the Internet in the hands of the few, especially those with money. The Internet is too vital to the free exchange of ideas to allow the few companies who control Internet technology to edit the ideas and content that flow through it.
Moreover, in this case what’s bad for free speech and democracy is also bad economic policy. Economists across the political spectrum agree that when companies can construct barriers to entry, markets are not free and efficient. New competition is locked out, resulting in a form of monopoly that causes consumers to suffer from higher prices- like their cable bills- and fewer choices.
That is exactly what has occurred in our traditional film and television business. After decades of consolidation and mergers, seven corporations control 95% of television production and viewing.
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But right now the Internet is opening up the media business to new competition. There are new buyers for what we as writers create. But if this new competition is unfairly pushed aside because the FCC adopts weak rules, rather than allowing consumers to decide what they prefer, neither innovation nor the best interests of society will be served.
An open Internet is essential for free speech and participatory democracy. An open Internet has also been a tremendous engine for the generation of new jobs and businesses, an engine that properly rewards creators who have something compelling to say.
The Commission has the authority to keep the Internet free and open. We urge you to take the steps necessary to ensure the free flow of ideas and content across the web, without the threat of blocking or discrimination.
Sincerely,
Courtney Kemp Agboh Steve Callaghan Charles H. Eglee Mara Akil Bill Callahan Lee Eisenberg Chris Alberghini Clifton Campbell John Eisendrath Adam Armus Dave Caplan Diane English Jeffrey Astrof Glenn Gordon Caron Dave Erickson Neal Baer Bridget Carpenter Stephen Falk Hunt Baldwin Patti Carr Kevin Falls Carol Barbee Jeremy Carver Mark Fergus Mike Barker Daniel Cerone Dave Finkel Jay Beattie Ilene Chaiken Mickey Fisher John D. Beck Adam Chase Emily Fox Jeffrey Bell Mike Chessler Dana Fox Roberto Benabib Cynthia Cidre Victor Fresco Dan Berendsen David X. Cohen Bryan Fuller Amy Berg Carter Covington Sera Gamble Jim Bernstein Elizabeth Craft Alexander Gansa Jennifer Bicks Alexandra Cunningham Greg Garcia Kevin Biegel Carlton Cuse Leila Gerstein Ken Biller Ed Decter Mike Gibbons Steve Blackman Steven DeKnight Vince Gilligan April Blair Bill D'Elia Scott Gimple Raphael Bob-Waksberg Robert Doherty Sivert Glarum Rob Bragin Garrett Donovan Neil Goldman Christopher Brancato Chris Downey Sara Goodman Bradley Bredeweg Tim Doyle David A. Goodman Shane Brennan James Duff Howard Gordon Scott Buck Jay Duplass Al Gough Jack Burditt Pamela Eells Peter Gould
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David S. Goyer Daniel Knauf Lara Olsen Susannah Grant Jay Kogen Peter Paige Rob Greenberg Aaron Korsh Lennon Parham Lyn Greene Eric Kripke James Parriott David Greenwalt Liz Kruger Jonas Pate Jonathan Groff Sam Laybourne Jim Patterson Marc Guggenheim Joni Lefkowitz Robert Peacock Aaron Guzikowski Jennifer Levin Tony Phelan Aaron Harberts Richard Levine Judd Pillot Chris Harris Steven Levitan Jeff Pinkner Ron Hart Paul Lieberstein Greg Plageman DeAnn Heline Eric Lodal Cameron Porsandeh Felicia D. Henderson Chuck Lorre Bill Prady Tom Hertz Rob Lotterstein Dawn Prestwich Al Higgins Steven Maeda Matt Pyken Jody Hill David Manson Daniel Pyne Tod Himmel Jim Margolis Luvh Rakhe David Hoge Michael Mariano Andrew Reich David Holden Andrew W. Marlowe Ethan Reiff Soo Hugh Glen Mazzara Lukas Reiter Armando Iannucci Blake McCormick Shonda Rhimes Lauren Iungerich David McFadzean Jason Richman Sean Jablonski Brian McGreevy Scott Rosenbaum Michael Jamin Matthew McGuinness Melissa Rosenberg Al Jean Jamie McLaughlin Mike Royce Joanna Johnson Jeff Melvoin Kirk Rudell Jennifer Johnson Carol Mendelsohn Shawn Ryan Dee Johnson Erica Messer Ajay Sahgal Jeff Judah Rina Mimoun Nick Santora Tom Kapinos Ronald D. Moore Scott Satin Michael B. Kaplan Chris Mundy Karl Schaefer Jason Katims Christopher Murphey Patrick Schumacker Mitchel Katlin Kevin Murphy Andy Schwartz Mike Kelley Margaret Nagle Mike Scully Neal Kendall DJ Nash Heath Seifert Jack Kenny Jan Nash Michael Seitzman Chris Keyser Stephen Nathan Naren Shankar Nahnatchka Khan Peter Nowalk Craig Shapiro Callie Khouri Rockne S. O'Bannon Dan Signer Kyle Killen Peter Ocko Josh Silverstein Marlene King Peter O'Fallon Craig Silverstein
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Todd Slavkin Matt Tarses Vaun Wilmott Patrick Sean Smith Christian Taylor Hilary Winston Jill Soloway Betsy Thomas John Wirth Holly Sorensen Rob Thomas Nicholas Wootton Tom Spezialy Hans Tobeason Craig Wright Kathryn J. Steinberg Donald Todd Rob Wright Dan Sterling Cyrus Voris Nicole Yorkin Bernie Su Greg Walker Graham Yost Veena Sud Matthew Weiner David Zabel Craig Sweeny Lizzy Weiss Aaron Zelman Darren Swimmer Matt Weitzman Ed Zuckerman Tom Szentgyorgyi John Wells David Zuckerman Janet Tamaro Mark Wilding
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