R.E.M. leads call to save net neutrality rules

A host of musicians including R.E.M., Killer Mike and Alison Mosshart have called on U.S. government officials to protect net neutrality rules.
Members of America’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on whether to repeal the consumer protection rules, which prevent internet companies from intentionally blocking, slowing down access to or charging money for specific websites, later this week (end17Dec17).
The musicians signed an open letter to FCC chairman Ajit Pai, urging him to keep the current rules in place as they claim changing the law could harm their ability to make a living.
“As musicians, composers, producers, and independent labels representing diverse backgrounds, traditions, genres, and communities, we urge the Federal Communications Commission to protect the open internet as a vehicle for free expression and collaboration,” their statement reads.
“We’ve built careers and big parts of our lives around our passion for music – creating it and connecting with listeners. Today, the internet is one of the primary places this work happens. We rely on it for everything from booking tours to selling merchandise, to collaborating with musicians on the other side of the globe.”
The musicians also state that ditching net neutrality rules would stifle freedom of expression, and could constrain artists and label executives’ ability to bring their music to listeners, as internet service providers would give those with financial backing preferential access to their customers.
In addition to Alison, Mike and band R.E.M., who signed as a group despite their 2011 split, others who added their names to the statement include punk rockers Fugazi, Wilco’s Jeff and Spencer Tweedy, and Neko Case.
The move to ditch the net neutrality rules has been backed by lawmakers from U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, but has provoked angry protests from Democrats and members of the American public.