Verizon vs #FCC oral arguments, #TheInternetMustGo mockumentary, WU, Lessig, Crawford @reddit_AMA #netneutrality

On September 9 2013,  the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Verizon v. FCC. The court is being asked to decide whether Internet access providers (Comcast, Verizon) should be subject to the FCC’s “Open Internet” rules adopted in December 2010. Verizon argues that the FCC doesn’t have statutory authority to regulate Internet access, because the Commission has labeled Internet access an unregulated “information service” rather than a regulated common carriage service under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It will also argue that Verizon is a First Amendment speaker that should have “editorial discretion” over Internet traffic that passes through its wires. A recording of the oral argument is available online today here.

Also on September 9, to coincide, over a dozen organizations including Free Press, Public Knowledge, ColorOfChange, Center for Media Justice, and Future of Music Coalition joined in launching the film.The Internet Must Go, a short online mockumentary using Colbert-style interviews with Internet luminaries to expose the absurdity of familiar arguments against net neutrality. View below.

Lastly, later that day, Professors Susan Crawford, Larry Lessig, and Tim Wu did Reddit AMA, celebrating the release of The Internet Must Go.