Virginia for Internet Freedom

StopSOPA-HQ · January 5

Top Priority for VA: Set up Meetings

There aren't any public events yet, so the most important thing is to get meetings with Senators. Here's what you need to do:

Please keep requesting meetings:

Call 202-224-4024 to speak with the scheduler, Britney Brown and request a meeting with staff or Senator Webb.
Call 804-775-2314 to find out best way to meet with Senator Warner.

Be polite and professional, and request a meeting on behalf of Virginia 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 Virginia 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.

ElleDmytryszyn · January 6

I'd like to rally the troops in Richmond, VA before I make this call. Stay tuned...

StopSOPA-HQ · January 6

The thought of going to one of these meetings alone might be scary, but we need to begin the scheduling process now! In some cases it can take up to 2-weeks to just have your meeting request processed! Word is spreading about these meetings, you'll have back-up soon.

ElleDmytryszyn · January 6

Okay, so I called Senator Webb's office and left a voicemail for the person handling this bill. We'll see what happens if/when they return my call.

StopSOPA-HQ · January 6

Awesome, great job! Let us know when you hear back from them.

tattersonae · January 6

If there's going to be a meeting in RVA and you need support, me and several of my peers would like to help in whatever way we can.

StopSOPA-HQ · January 6

@tattersonae at this point in the process, it would probably be best for you to try and schedule a meeting with the district office that is closest to you. Don't be afraid, the staffers are very nice and must respond to constituents such as yourself!

ElleDmytryszyn · January 6

@tattersonae sweet! Same here. I didn't have any luck with Senator Warner's office. Could you call to see if we can get something scheduled? I'll let you know if I hear back from Senator Webb's office.

itguy · January 6

Meeting for Tuesday the 10th with a staff member of Senator Webb at the DC office. Contact me if you would like to join the meeting. Also if you can't make it help with preparing would be good too.

StopSOPA-HQ · January 6

@itguy Awesome! Can you give a time and an address? If you or anyone you know is well versed in TCP/IP, it would great if you could get them to come along and talk about the ways PIPA undermines DNSSEC.

Meanwhile, here are some links to help you create some talking points for the meeting:

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

http://cdt.org/files/pdfs/SOPA 2-pager final.pdf

http://cdt.org/report/growing-chorus-opposition-stop-online-piracy-act

ElleDmytryszyn · January 6

@itguy Excellent! Unfortunately, I can't make it that day, although I would love to. I'll ask around to see if the network gurus I know are interested in joining you. I would love to help with preparing for your meeting on the 10th. How can I help?

textdog · January 6

Also, this is a good primer:
http://www.publicknowledge.org/files/Public Knowledge citizen packet_1.pdf

itguy · January 6

It's at the Russell Building Suite 248 at 2pm with Sarah. DNS is as good angle. If I recall there were some ISPs against the legislation precisely for that reason. Something else that is very important are the high tech companies headquartered in Virginia that would be impacted.

StopSOPA-HQ · January 6

@itguy do you know how many people they can accomodate? We'd love to get as many people as possible in there!

itguy · January 6

Oh I told her that there may be more people coming. I'm calling to confirm on Monday so if we have a number by then I can make sure that there will be enough space. Also it is Senator Webb not Warner. The top announcement says Warner. I made an email for people interested to contact me sopanothanks@gmail.com

StopSOPA-HQ · January 6

@itguy Oh no! My mistake. I will fix that now!

blue_q · January 8

I won't be able to make it either, but my thought was to demonstrate how easy it is to bypass a government-controlled DNS system. @StopSOPA-HQ , please correct me if I'm wrong about this approach.

Setup 2 laptops. Laptop A is a regular computer. Laptop B is a "standard DNS server if SOPA or PIPA are passed." Laptop B has a normal entry for www.house.gov. Demonstrate on Laptop A that www.house.gov works as normal. Remove the entry from Laptop B DNS server. Show that Laptop A cannot find www.house.gov. Reconfigure Laptop A to use any other DNS server on the internet (or ideally a "rouge" one from someone's house), then open a browser and show that the server is magically reachable again.

My point for this demo is that members of Congress don't understand how the DNS system works and how easy it is to bypass any controls by setting up a DNS server somewhere else on the internet, which could also be in a different country. I believe members of Congress assume that users MUST use an ISP's DNS server and there's no way around it. A demonstration is required in order to prove otherwise.

itguy · January 9

This is one of multiple ways to bypass the dns censorship method. An even easier way would be to just type the IP address. Another possibility would be for the site to register a new domain name each time it is taken down. Another is to use local lists of ip addresses similar to a host file. Yet another is to use a browser extension designed to circumvent blocking.

It is clear that many lawmakers are not up to date with technology. To be fair they can't be expected to be well versed in every subject. It will probably take another generation for lawmakers to become tech savvy. What is important is to let them know how the law would affect the people they represent as well as the internet as a whole.

theLemur · January 9

I just tried to contact Senator Warner again. At the number listed above I spoke to a staffer who indicated I should call teh Washington, DC office and speak with Neepa Didwai: 202-224-2023

Calling that office I was told to schedule on their web site, which had only this:

Thank you for your interest in making a scheduling request with Senator Mark R. Warner's office. For all requests, please email invite@warner.senate.gov with the information below:

Your organization's name

Meeting topic

Event name

Event date

Location

Contact phone number

Contact email

I have sent an email to request a meeting in Washington, DC or in Northern Virginia. No response as yet.

itguy · January 9

I sent out my writeup to the people coming to the meeting tomorrow!

StopSOPA-HQ · January 10

@itguy Everyone at FFTF is hoping the meeting's going well. Please give us a detailed writeup of what happened and what -if any- results came out of it. You're our first successful constituant meeting! Congrats!

DBKJones · January 11

@theLemur I also sent an email request for Warner. I travel for work and would only be available for Jan 20th in the NOVA area, but I figured sending another request might add the the urgency of our message. We'll see

ElleDmytryszyn · January 11

@itguy any luck?? How did the meeting go?

Everyone else - I have a few friends that would love to get involved. Since we have limited time before the bill goes to vote, what can we do to help??

StopSOPA-HQ · January 11

@ElleDmytryszyn - try scheduling more meetings! Specifically target Warner. Go to Sen. Warner's website, look for the office closest to you, and call them to request a meeting!

ElleDmytryszyn · January 11

@DBKJones I'm available on the 20th as well in the NOVA area. I just sent an email to Sen. Warner asking him to meet on that day too. Hopefully he'll see multiple emails about meeting that same day and consider scheduling some time with us.

StopSOPA-HQ · January 11

@ElleDmytryszyn @DBKJones - the Senator might already be back in DC by then, but it would still be really helpful to meet with a member of his staff.

DBKJones · January 11

@StopSOPA-HQ The NOVA area surrounds DC on the VA side, so even if the Senator is in DC, the NOVA area should be quite easy to get to by the DC metro, or the meeting can be held in his DC office which should also be metro accessible.

itguy · January 11

The meeting yesterday went very well! The staff member we met with was very friendly and receptive to our concerns with the bill. We also received helpful information about what concerns others were having with the bill as well as some more information about technicalities in the bill. Most importantly our concerns will be passed on to the Senator before he makes his decision.

There is no reason to be intimidated by the prospect of meeting with your representative. Just remember that they work for you and it is their job to listen to what you have to say. Meeting in person can have a real impact and are a great opportunity to be heard.

StopSOPA-HQ · January 11

@itguy Good to hear! Thanks for going, you did an awesome job! Was there any indication as to how Senator Webb is leaning?

@DBKJones - Thanks, I know very little about the VA area, so that's useful info. In that case, I'd encourage you guys to request any meeting before Jan. 24th.

itguy · January 11

Most likely he will make a decision when the vote happens unfortunately.

JWN_DC_VA · January 12

this is the 2nd perhaps the 3rd time its went before congress in the past 6 months! and I have contacted my person every time! F THIS BILL!!!

nubcakeandeatittoo · January 12

I have left several messages for Senator Warner and am waiting for a call back to schedule a meeting with a staff member. In the meantime I have made this petition for all states regarding PIPA on change.org. Please check it out and show your support! 10,000 signatures is the first goal, then 1,000,000! If this petition is successful please use it for support during your meetings! Thanks.

http://www.change.org/petitions/us-all-states-protect-the-freedom-of-the-internet-stop-the-protect-ip-act-s968

Miles_Hikari · January 12

I'm not sure I'd be able to meet with anyone on that day due to transportation issues, but I well do my best to continue spreading the word about SOPA and encourage as many people as possible to help oppose it, and hopefully find more people who actually can meet with the representative.

itguy · January 12

It would appear that Warner is against PIPA in its current form. http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/W000805/

DeeKaye · January 13

Aside from haggling to try and get meetings, I HIGHLY recommend everyone e-mailing Webb & Warner. I have had great responses in the past doing this (in fact Webb got me & my neighborhood high-speed!) and this will load into their office e-mails, is easy to do and easier to get many many people seen as caring about an issue.

Jim Webb: http://webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Mark Warner: http://warner.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?p=ContactPage

Dragonborn_BR · January 13

brazil guy

this thing-effect in all world- no censure -

Dragonborn_BR · January 13

i don't speak english right =/

teotku · January 15

I have found in my efforts to contact my Senator and my Congressman that they are much more concerned with what I have to say if they think that I am collecting information for a public story. When they ask me who I am with, I tell them that I am assembling information for various blogs who are compiling stories pertaining to the issue at hand. (Which is in fact a truth on my part because I usually do forward this information to the various blogs that I frequent.) I always ask the staffers their name and job title and take that information down (I also always offer my own if they ask). If they will not give me their name or job title, I ask them to forward me to someone who can. I always ask what the Congressman or Senator's position is on the issue at hand instead of offering my opinion up front. (for some reason this always makes the staffer nervous and they usually kick it upstairs immediately and you get to speak with the C or S's public relations staffer). If they refuse to cooperate, I kindly inform them that I will note this recalcitrance in my report and again confirm the spelling of their names. (which usually garners another request to hold please and or another senior staffer coming on the line.) If outright stonewalling doesn't work, they will usually say that the S or C hasn't formed an opinion on this issue. Then ask that a staffer please inform the S or C of the importance of the issue at hand and ask for a return call on the issue reminding them that you are on a deadline and their lack of cooperation will be noted if you do not hear form them. Always remember to be POLITE! Especially if they are not being polite! Most staffers who answer the phones are interns who will be gone in six months or so, so remember that the staffer rarely has anything to lose and are quite often being used as a human firewall between the official and the public. The idea here is to let them know that there will be accountability on their part and the part of their boss. It makes them less callous. If they ask you your opinion on the issue, then by all means offer it and let them know that the readers of the blogs that you are contributing information to share your opinions and that they are very eager to hear what the S or C's intends to do about the issue.

theLemur · January 17

Neither Webb nor Warner's staffers have been particularly standoffish. And no one has been rude. Sen. Webb's staffer was forthright and polite and took quite a few notes as we spoke with her. Webb hadn't formed an opinion at that point.

Senator Warner's staffer Zack Golden just contacted me via email this morning. I'm arranging a meeting with him soon. It will be either on Thursday or possibly next week. This should be a low-pressure meeting, as it's my understanding that Senator Warner already opposes PIPA and a quick summary of money he has received shows that he's gotten 150% as much from anti-SOPA/PIPA groups as from those supporting it. He's also been a part of OPEN which, so far, seems a much more reasonable law than PIPA.

I will communicate details of the meeting schedule as I have them.

DBKJones · January 17

A staffer for Sen. Warner just contacted me in order to set up a meeting for Friday. They offered to either meet in their DC office or their Tyson's Corner office Friday, January 20th morning. I'll be available and will go meet at either location (Tyson's Corner is actually a closer drive to me but if people can make it to DC that's fine as well). Is anyone else able to make it out Friday?

If not that's fine, I'll use the above links to create talking points similar to @itguy

theLemur · January 17

apologies, I said Thursday, but the current date bandied about is Jan 20th: Friday. @DBKJones I notice this is a good day for you. Email me at ericjehlers@gmail.com and I'll make sure you are kept informed of the details.

theLemur · January 17

@DBKJones. Looks like we're talking across each other. I just sent a request to Warner's staffer for downtown, as that is orders of magnitude easier for me. If that's amenable, we'll coordinate?

DBKJones · January 17

@theLemur Talking to the same guy I see. I'll email you and we can co-ordinate, but downtown works perfectly fine for me

StopSOPA-HQ · January 17

@theLemur @DBKJones - once you guys have a date and time nailed down, let me know and we'll put it on our WP and make a FB event.

itguy · January 17

Any time this week works for me.

tastythings · January 18

Please please please include me in the FB event. I have local media connections, although CBS is supporting this...

VisionStudios · January 18

What can we do? In Harrisonburg we can maybe rally some of the JMU students?

preston · January 18

we need to rally the people to stop this

SOPAisVIRTUALwar · January 18

I received the same situation as someone prior.

I just tried to contact Senator Warner again. At the number listed above I spoke to a staffer who indicated I should call teh Washington, DC office and speak with Neepa Didwai: 202-224-2023

I have sent an email to request a meeting in Washington, DC or in Northern Virginia. No response as yet.

Its sad when politicians try to enact, control, and regulate systems that run on technology and science, systems that they have no clue how they begin to work. They vote on the side that pays the most support and its pretty sad. Even when you try to be polite, waving you off to the next "chump" is the only thing they can do. Its truly sad how much power these congressman think they have. At the end of the day, if this passes, the technologically savvy will still have access to everything, new bypassing methods will be created and no amount of legal action will slow it down especially once those very technologically savy become involved. Thats when true furry will just strike, servers will begin to crash at an utterly alarming rate, and a virtual war will arrise. Just how there is the never ending war on drugs, a new never ending war will arise. One that will compromise alot more systems than you could ever imagine. Virtual gangs will arise, just like real ones, and a online blackmarket will arise with even stronger profit margin than what already exists virtually. Then when America falls victim to virtual terrorism, dont be wondering how this crap came about.... I tried to be polite by trying to get in contact with someone and leaving a formal message and opinion, but being tossed off to the side as some side of road crap is even more insulting. Being blunt on a forum is sadly the only way left to share my opinion since apparently "Neepa Didwai" is supposed to forward on our opinions to Senator Webb & staff.

censored_ · January 18

SOPA/PIPA cheat sheet, useful as reference or to pass on to the uninformed on Jan 18th.
- Originally posted to AKFIF, but contact info for Alaska politicians has been removed.

http://pastebin.com/mSkB62Fz

Included are
* links to limited, but informative coverage in the media
* links to written coverage of SOPA & PIPA (two may be offline today)
* key points highlighting threats and collateral damage that SOPA & PIPA present

mdr3d · January 18

The plan:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-against-SOPA/304313362953003?sk=info

first step:

1._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a under copyright item
2._ No subscriber to this group will ever go to a cinema
3._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy film on pay tv
4._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a book (paper or e-book)
5._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a news paper
6._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a magazine of any kind
7._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a CD
8._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a DVD

Stop American Censorship

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