Net neutrality has always been a difficult issue to discuss, mostly because a majority of Americans still don’t know what the heck “net neutrality” is.
Fixing Net Neutrality’s Branding Problem? Lawmaker Asks for Ideas.
A California State Representative is launching a “rebranding” contest on Reddit to help make the wonky issue easier to explain to the masses.
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California Rep. Anna Eshoo wants to fix that problem. Eleven years after New York Lt. Governor candidate (and law professor) Tim Wu coined the phrase, the Democratic congresswoman has launched a rebranding contest on Reddit in the hope that people can come up with a better name.
“If Internet users care about their right to uninhibited access to the Internet, this is their opportunity to have an impact on the process, to help put the advantage back in the hands of the Internet user and to ensure that the free and open Internet prevails,” Eshoo said in a video message Thursday.
(Note: “Participants are reminded to refrain from using vulgar or otherwise inappropriate language.”)
Net neutrality is the idea that Internet providers shouldn’t be allowed to discriminate against any legal Internet traffic and block or slow applications. The FCC is currently considering new rules that could allow Internet providers to buy fast-lane, last-mile access to subscriber homes.
That idea hasn’t been received particularly well by many startups or Internet activists, who worry that Internet providers already have too much market power.
Have a brilliant name idea? You can enter the contest here.
No prizes other than bragging rights. Entries are due September 8.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
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