YOUR PHONE IS

POLITICAL
Or, Why Owning an Android Phone* Matters

*Or iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows

Phone, Nokia, etc.
What We Mean by “Political”

Mobile phones are essential tools for engaging in politics,

newsgathering and community organizing.
Mobile Use Is Exploding
The way we use the web is changing.

 Nearly half of U.S. adults access news on their phones

 Latinos, Asian Americans and African Americans use
even more
 By 2014, more Americans will access web on mobile
devices than on computers
Obstacles to Access
If something is politically empowering, someone will want to
control it.

Carrier control:
 Pricing – limited competition means higher prices
 Devices – choice, availability and openness
 Data caps – control of our networks
 Access – selective network buildout
Price Matters
Political engagement depends on access to new
technologies and fast networks.

 Phones are expensive and we don’t know true cost

 Text messaging costs carriers almost nothing; pure profit
 Less competition means higher prices
 Tiered pricing structures block access, threaten Net
Neutrality
Openness Matters
Closed phones and platforms block innovation and
discourage participation.

In the abstract:

 Open platforms allow social, political and technological

innovation
 Closed platforms create walled gardens, too much
control, opportunities for censorship and corporate control
Openness Matters, cont.

Reality:
All mobile platforms (iOS, Android, Windows) are a mix of
open and closed.
Data Matters
The more we use data, the bigger the fight to cap it.

 Growing bandwidth consumption on wireline and

wireless
 Uploading and viewing videos empower us
 New applications rely on fast, unlimited data connections
 Expensive data caps stop us from using new tools to
participate
Access Matters
Without access to high-speed networks, we can’t connect
and participate.

 Big carriers find little incentive to build high-speed

networks in underserved areas
 Those without high-speed wireless will be left behind
 More difficult for communities to advocate for their needs
 Hampers political engagement
Last Six Months
Three bad things happened:

 AT&T – T-Mobile possible deal

 New MetroPCS data plans
 Weak FCC Net Neutrality rule
1. AT&T – T-Mobile
Would create a virtual duopoly of unprecedented size.

 Higher prices
 Less innovation
 Fewer jobs

All would limit your ability to use phone as a political tool.

2. MetroPCS’ Data Plans
New tiered pricing plans threaten free expression.

 Cheapest plans block video and voice apps and many

websites
 Explicitly breaks (weak) FCC rules
 Suing FCC for passing those rules in the first place
 Disproportionately affects those with less income
3. Weak Net Neutrality Rule
FCC passes loophole-ridden rule with industry’s blessing.

 Limited protections for wired broadband don’t apply to

wireless
 Carriers can block or degrade applications and websites
 With mobile tech becoming pre-eminent, free speech is
at risk
Principles
What do we believe?

 Mobile devices and networks are essential tools for

political engagement
 Everyone needs access to them
 Must ensure that everyone can use them without
unnecessary restrictions
What’s Next?
Important questions and next steps.

 App stores and software/hardware providers as

gatekeepers. How to reconcile?
 Open vs. closed/Android vs. iPhone: How to protect
against market abuse?
 How can we hold corporations accountable?
 How can we empower the FCC and Congress to protect
us from carrier control of devices and networks?