Delaware for Internet Freedom

StopSOPA-HQ

TOP PRIORITY FOR DE: Call into Townhall and Get a Meeting

• If you miss the telephone townhall, call 302-573-6291 to request a meeting with Senator Carper.
• Email scheduler Kelly: kelly_nye@coons.senate.gov or call 302-573-6345 to meet with Senator Coons.

Be polite and professional, and request a meeting on behalf of Delaware for Internet Freedom (the folks in this forum) to discuss the PROTECT IP Act and SOPA.  Make it clear that you want to meet with the Senator during the January recess, and that you'll be bringing others from your group.  Have your calendar open when you call, so you can pick a time that works for you.  When finished, post a report-back. 

For example: "Hi, my name is ________, I'm with Delaware for Internet freedom, and I'm calling to request a meeting with Senator _______ during the January recess.  The PROTECT IP vote is happening on January 24th, and I wanted the Senator to understand my concerns before the vote happens."

Report back by posting a comment below

IMPORTANT: If you do get a meeting, post another message. That way others can join you in your meeting.  If there's any other specific information we should include in this post, message us and we can add it. 

tekkamanendless

Senator Coons is actually going to be visiting our company on Monday.  Do you have any recommendations on things to bring up?  We probably won't get much time, since he's already scheduled in and I don't have control of the agenda?

StopSOPA-HQ

@tekkamanendless - here are a few good primers: 

http://www.publicknowledge.org/files/Public Knowledge citizen packet_1.pdf http://cdt.org/files/pdfs/SOPA 2-pager final.pdf 

https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/SOPA-PIPA-one-pager.pdf

I'm not sure how Company visits usually go, but if there's some sort of open mic time when he comes definitely try and ask a question. The two points that are most effective with U.S Senators are:

1. The bill chills tech innovation, which kills job growth in the U.S. Try and imagine YouTube or Twitter being founded under PIPA... it would be nearly impossible.

2. The bill undermines DNSSEC measures. A good question to ask regarding this is, "Do you understand what the Domain Name Server (DNS) system is and have you consulted with cybersecurity experts on the effects of the Protect IP Act?"

Good luck! Hope you can get a word in with him!

tekkamanendless

Good news: Coons said that is against SOPA (and would, in theory, vote against it if it came to the Senate).

Bad news: He seemed to think that PIPA was fine and had due-process goodness; my understanding of his understanding of DNS is fuzzy at this point, however.

GeekyGrandma

PIPA is *NOT* fine and if Sen. Coons thinks that, he is nuts!

StopSOPA-HQ

@GeekyGrandma - can you call/email and tell him as much? We need the Senators staffs' to hear as many voices opposing this legislation as possible!