American Civil Liberties Union

Free Speech:
Freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to all Americans. Since 1920, the ACLU has worked to preserve our freedom of speech. Learn more and take action to protect the right to free speech.


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Free Speech : Legislative Documents

ACLU Letter to Senator Specter Expressing Support for Free Speech Protection Act of 2008 (09/17/2008)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), its more than half a million members, countless additional activists and supporters, and fifty-four affiliates nationwide, we write in strong support of S. 2977, the Free Speech Protection Act of 2008. This bill would address the growing problem of libel tourism, whereby individuals seek libel judgments in foreign countries where libel laws do not have the same free speech protections as in the U.S.

ACLU Comments to FCC Re: Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 2155-2175 MHz Band and Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 1915-1920 MHz, 1995-2000 MHz, 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz Bands (07/28/2008)
The ACLU supports making broadband services more accessible to the public through universal access and expansion of the broadcast spectrum, including efforts to develop the vast unused portions of the wireless spectrum. The Commission should ensure that any licenses granted to utilize that spectrum, including the 2155-2175 MHz 1915-1920 MHz, 1995-2000 MHz, 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz bands that are the subject of the proposed rules in these matters, guarantee users access to the lawful Internet content of their choice, using applications and services of their choice. At the same time, the Commission should decline to impose unconstitutional conditions on license applications, such as a requirement for so-called “family friendly” filters that would censor lawful content.

ACLU, TLP, and ACLU of PA Comments Before FCC Re: Hearing on Broadband and the Digital Future (07/21/2008)
The ACLU, Technology and Liberty Project of the ACLU, and the ACLU of Pennsylvania have been principal participants in many of the important Internet censorship and neutrality cases decided by the United States Supreme Court in the past two decades, including Reno v. ACLU, Ashcroft v. ACLU, Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, and the Brand X decision, in which the Court held that cable companies providing broadband Internet access were “information service providers” for purposes of regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act. The ACLU of Pennsylvania was co-counsel in two of the leading Internet decisions, Reno v. ACLU and Ashcroft v. ACLU. Last year, the ACLU of Pennsylvania obtained relief in the Ashcroft litigation that permanently enjoined the Child Online Protection Act (“COPA”).

ACLU Comments to FCC Regarding Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 2155-2175 MHz Band (06/05/2008)
The ACLU supports making broadband services more accessible to the public through universal access and expansion of the broadcast spectrum, including efforts to develop the vast unused portions of the wireless spectrum. The Commission should ensure that any licenses granted to utilize that spectrum, including the 2155-2175 MHz band that is the subject of the Petition in this matter, guarantee users access to the lawful Internet content of their choice, using applications and services of their choice. At the same time, the Commission should decline to impose unconstitutional conditions on license applications, such as a requirement for so-called "family friendly" filters that would censor lawful content.

Coalition Sign-On Letter Opposing the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (05/15/2008)

Coalition Memo to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Regarding "Homegrown Terrorism" (05/07/2008)

ACLU Comments before the FCC regarding Broadband Industry Practices (04/17/2008)
The ACLU, Technology and Liberty Project of the ACLU, and ACLU of Northern California support the underlying petitions and urge the Commission to find in favor of Petitioners by upholding concepts of accessibility and non-discrimination in the provision of text messaging and short code services and in the delivery of broadband services.

ACLU Letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Leadership Regarding S.J. Res 28, Disapproving of the Rule Submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with Respect to Broadcast Media Ownership (04/01/2008)

ACLU Comments to FCC Regarding Net Neutrality (03/14/2008)

Caroline Fredrickson's Testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Net Neutrality and Free Speech on the Internet (03/11/2008)

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