Net Neutrality Groups Plan Protest at Google HQ

Several consumer groups are planning a Friday rally in protest of Google's recent net neutrality proposal with Verizon.

The event - organized by MoveOn.org Civic Action, ColorofChange.org, Credo Action, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Free Press - is intended to "urge the search-engine giant to live up to its corporate motto: 'Don't Be Evil,'" according to a statement distributed by Free Press.

The rally will start at noon on Friday, Aug. 13 at Google Headquarters, located at Amphitheatre Parkway and Charleston Road in Mountain View, Calif.

The proposal, which Google defended this afternoon, calls for net neutrality principles to be applied to wireline but not wireless services.

The consumer groups want Google to abandon the proposal, which they believe "threatens to destroy Network Neutrality - the fundamental principle that keeps the Internet open and free from discrimination."

Free Press, in conjunction with SavetheInternet.com, is circulating an online petition that asks FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to denounce the plan. Free Press said Thursday that more than 300,000 people have signed it. The FCC has not made any public statements about the Google-Verizon proposal.

Originally posted to Gearlog.

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