“Our rapidly expanding industry employs hundreds of thousands of individuals and yet it hardly existed more than a decade ago,” states the letter from the Internet Creators Guild, which stages online video makers. “As content creators in this fast-moving industry, modifications to the existing Net Neutrality rules would have an outsized influence on our field and jeopardize our livelihood.”
The letter has been endorsed by major names in the YouTube community, such as the Fine Brothers. In sum, the guild says, the letter represents video creators with an audience of more than 150 million people.
The YouTube producers directly address FCC chairman Ajit Pai in the letter. Under Pai’s administration, the agency has moved forward with proposals to repeal open internet protections put in place under the Obama administration, and the deadline for remarks on the agency’s proposal is approaching.
The letter claims that the removal of protections would lead to “the imminent creation of fast lanes that would prerogative the large media companies that can afford to pay for such service,” putting smaller media creators in danger.
The Internet Association, a trade organization that represents YouTube owner Google, has advanced in support of the net neutrality rules. Other important video providers, including Amazon and Pornhub, have also promised support for the rules. Netflix, after some trepidation, recently came out in favor of the protections as well.
“We strongly recommend you to oppose anything that would threaten this level playing field,” the letter of video makers concludes. “The stakes are just too high for our democracy, culture, and economy.”
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