The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in conjunction with the Islamic Society of North America and other high profile religious organizations have been pushing Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler to support net neutrality.
In a letter sent to the FCC on Sept. 15, the groups highlighted the importance of a free and open Internet to the religious community as a means of connecting with members and advocating for justice in a “crowded and over-commercialized media environment.”
Religious organizations are increasing their use of the Internet and social media as a means of evangelization, leading to concerns that faith-based content could be relegated to the “slow lane” should the FCC implement a paid prioritization system proposed earlier this year. Churches also fear they could be forced to pay fees to ensure their content “receives fair treatment on the Internet.”
The letter also argues for net neutrality as a social justice issue stating that the Internet serves as a tool for the “disenfranchised and vulnerable” to access educational and employment opportunities. Creating economic and accessibility barriers to the Internet will disproportionately harm lower income people by hampering their ability to access the information necessary to improve their lives argue religious leaders, according to the letter.
Religious leaders had strong criticism for actions Internet service providers are taking in favor of paid prioritization and the effect this would have on the disenfranchised, stating, “It is wrong for for-profit organizations to banish these individuals and the institutions who serve them to a second-class status on the Internet.”
As the FCC continues to explore how best to enforce new open Internet regulations, this multi-denominational coalition has given Internet activists an unexpected ally in net neutrality debate.
