The White House Blog

More than any other invention of our time, the Internet has unlocked possibilites we could barely fathom a generation ago and has provided an equal platform for new generations to define our future. That is why President Obama is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement the strongest set of rules that will protect the principle of net neutrality and ensure an open and free Internet for all. 

Americans across the country -- and the world wide web -- were quick to express strong support for the President's plan. Here's a look at what just a few people -- from congressmembers and reporters to technology experts and Internet platforms like Netflix and Tumblr -- have to say about the President's support for net neutrality: 

Ed note: This is cross-posted from the Department of Health and Human Services' blog.

With just two days to go until the start of Open Enrollment, I want to share with you what we've been doing at the Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to quality, affordable coverage to more people and to lay the groundwork for a successful Open Enrollment.

First, we're committed to improving the consumer experience.

We've listened to feedback and have put that learning into practice. Most consumers who come back to HealthCare.gov to renew their coverage will find about 90% of their application is pre-populated, based on answers from last year. Consumers who are renewing coverage, as well as consumers shopping for coverage for the first time, will have 25% more options to choose from on average. That means consumers can shop and find a more affordable plan that better meets their needs. And we've added 1,000 representatives to our 24-hour call center to answer questions and help consumers get and stay covered.

Every day, thousands of Americans write President Obama about the issues that matter most to them -- and my job is to help sort through them. This post is the first in a series that will help highlight the stories of Americans who have written the President about the Affordable Care Act and what it means to them. Starting November 15, you can visit HealthCare.gov to shop for and enroll in a plan that works for you.

The voices of people across America inform the President and give him invaluable perspective on the progress we've made -- as well as the work we've got left to do. If you want to write the President yourself, you can do that here.

“Because we now have access to affordable healthcare, we have now signed a long-term lease to open a retail business in Georgetown, Texas.”

--Russ and Linda Dickson

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama meet with Texans who wrote letters to the President about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), at the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas, April 10, 2014. Participants include: Linda Dickson (52) with Russ Dickson (60) [husband] (antique store owners). (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Nearly 50 years ago, the American Film Institute (AFI) was born in the White House Rose Garden. Standing just outside the Oval Office, President Lyndon Johnson spoke to the need to bring together “leading artists of the film industry, outstanding educators, and young men and women who wish to pursue the 20th century art form as their life's work.”

Since that day, new tools and platforms have allowed remarkable voices of a new generation to speak with this art form, and we are proud and honored to partner with the White House in encouraging the young people of America to tell their inspiring tales.

It is in this spirit that I am happy to announce that submissions are now open for the second-ever White House Student Film Festival -- open to U.S. students, grades K-12. The theme of the festival this year is "The Impact of Giving Back." Short films entered into this year’s festival should offer a take on that topic, and be no longer than 3 minutes.

Ed. Note: The following excerpts are from an op-ed for Fox News written by Senator William "Bill" H. Frist, M.D., an American physician, businessman, and former Republican Senator from Tennessee who served as the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate. You can read the full op-ed here. 

When crisis strikes, the world looks to the United States for leadership. And that holds true for public health emergencies.

...

That is why it is critically important for the United States to remain on offense. To this end, the Obama administration last week requested $6.2 billion in emergency funding from Congress for the Ebola response.

This request supports what we know we must do to counter this disease: tackle it on the front lines, fortify our domestic health infrastructure, pursue vaccines and therapeutics and improve our capacity for rapid diagnostic testing, among other key steps.

Some of these funds would be spent at home, while part would go toward the international response. But to be clear, every single dollar would help protect the American people from this threat, which must remain the priority.

Today in Beijing, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping made history by jointly announcing the United States’ and China’s respective targets for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change in the post-2020 period.

This announcement is a unique development in the U.S.-China relationship. The world’s two largest economies, energy consumers, and carbon emitters are reaching across traditional divides and working together to demonstrate leadership on an issue that affects the entire world.

By making this announcement well in advance of the deadline set out in the UNFCCC negotiations, the two leaders demonstrated their commitment to reducing the harmful emissions warming our planet, and urged other world leaders to follow suit in offering strong national targets ahead of next year’s final negotiations in Paris.

Earlier today, Vice President Biden sent this message to the White House email list in honor of Veterans Day. Didn't get it? Make sure you sign up for email updates here.

Mike Erwin saw tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. And when he got home, he kept on serving.

When he came home, he started a community service group. Because, despite everything that Mike had given to his country by serving overseas, he wanted to serve his country at home, as well. This morning on Veterans Day, I had the honor of welcoming Mike and a team of his fellow veterans to the White House -- where they presented a flag they had run across the United States in two months, starting on September 11, 2014.

I've met countless members of our armed forces like Mike over the years. And no matter where or when they served, I am always humbled by their selfless commitment to our country. Our veterans represent the absolute best we have to offer.

They are the heart and soul -- the very spine -- of this nation.

As we give thanks to our veterans, we say thanks to the men and women still serving. Take a moment to thank our troops.

Today, there are still thousands of warriors serving in harm's way. I know them. I've been with them. I've seen the incredible sacrifices they make every day for all of us.

And just like the veterans of past wars, today's returning troops deserve our enduring gratitude.

As my wife Jill points out, less than 1 percent of America's population serves in uniform, but more than 99 percent of Americans owe that 1 percent much more than we could ever repay. We owe them, and we owe their sons and daughters, husbands and wives, too.

It's our sacred obligation to care for and equip those who we send to war, and care for them and their families when they come home.

God bless America and may God protect our troops,

Vice President Joe Biden

Dr. Jill Biden sat down with Lylah Alphonse of U.S. News & World Report to talk about our Joining Forces initiative and what businesses and communities can do to support those who have courageously served our nation. This interview originally appeared in U.S. News & World Report. You can find the original post here. 

Though the unemployment rate in the U.S. continues to fall, the country is still coping with a skills gap, especially in certain science- and technology-intensive fields like IT and health care. Veterans could fill the gap -- if only employers were more aware of the skills these men and women gained while in military service.

"Not every hiring manager is going to know that a chief petty officer has been responsible for the lives of dozens of their peers," First Lady Michelle Obama said during the Women Veterans Career Development Forum in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday. "Not every HR director understands that a gunner’s mate is probably trained to do some of the most complex, high-tech analysis that you'll find anywhere."

To help bridge that gap, and to encourage citizens to support veterans and military families, the First Lady and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched Joining Forces in 2011.

The Internet is the cornerstone of innovation. It should be open and free -- an equal playing field for entrepreneurs, writers, activists, businesses, for all of us to share ideas and unlock new possibilities that will define our future. President Obama is committed to preserving that freedom, and that is why he laid out a new plan to protect it.

So what’s the plan and what’s the principle behind it? Here are some answers to key questions about net neutrality and what the President is doing to ensure a free and open Internet:  

What is net neutrality?

As a consumer, you can access the Internet by subscribing to an Internet service provider (ISP), such as a phone or cable company. Net neutrality is the principle that says these companies must treat all Internet traffic equally, no matter the website or service. It prevents Internet providers from restricting access to websites and services you use or giving faster Internet speeds -- or “fast lanes” -- to websites and services that are commercially affiliated with them. Essentially, net neutrality makes sure there are no gatekeepers deciding which sites you get to access in the online world.