Archive:WPZeroPetition/Letter1

We are the non-profit that supports Wikipedia. Our vision is a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. While we currently serve around 500 million people every month, we have a long way to go, and we need your help.

In 2013, we read an open letter from a high school class that wanted free access to Wikipedia on their mobile phones so that they could do their homework. Regrettably, their story could have come from anywhere -- it illustrates just how much the world needs access to Wikipedia.

You might think that the cost of data is trivial, but it is the single greatest barrier we face to getting everyone access to Wikipedia. Roughly 6 out of every 7 people today have access to a mobile phone, however despite Wikipedia’s free license, the cost of data is so expensive for most people that they simply can’t afford to access Wikipedia. That’s why the Wikimedia Foundation has been working with mobile phone providers to waive data charges for accessing Wikipedia. This initiative is called Wikipedia Zero.

If you believe that everyone should have equal access to Wikipedia, then please sign this petition to encourage mobile phone carriers to provide free access to Wikipedia on mobile phones. If you are a mobile carrier, please consider zero-rating access to Wikipedia.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
The Wikimedia Foundation