Letter to Thomas Wheeler, Federal Communications Commission Chairman- Demanding-Net-Neutrality

Letter

Ahead of tomorrow's Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) meeting regarding new Internet speed and pricing policies, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) joined with 35 of her colleagues to send a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler urging strong consumer protections that will prevent anti-competitive behavior and promote innovation.

"As you develop a proposal to oversee access to the Internet, we urge you to adopt strong and enforceable open Internet rules that proactively protect Internet users from unfair practices, including the blockage of lawful traffic or discrimination among content providers by Internet Service Providers," the letter states.

The letter supports net neutrality, which would prevent Internet service providers, such as Comcast and Verizon, from discriminating against some content providers. It means these Internet service providers shouldn't be able to create a "two-speed" Internet, where bigger companies pay for faster speeds, or where customers have to pay more to receive quick service.

As the letter continues: "Recognizing our nation's communications providers as common carriers under the law is common sense. Reclassification would also complement the Commission's efforts to promote innovation, competition and investment in universally available, reliable and affordable broadband infrastructure. Over one million people have already gone on the record in support of reclassification."

On Tuesday, Shea-Porter published an Op-Ed in the Union Leader where she noted that "without the guarantee of network neutrality, the Internet superhighway's rules of the road will favor big tech businesses over newer startups."

Shea-Porter is a cosponsor of the Open Internet Preservation Act of 2014, a temporary fix to allow the FCC time to rewrite its rules and defend net neutrality.

The text of the letter is below. A PDF with signatures is available at http://1.usa.gov/1mYLx13.

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May 14, 2014

The Honorable Thomas Wheeler
ChaShea-Porter Sends Letter to FCC Chairman Demanding Net Neutralityirman Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC20554

Dear Chairman Wheeler,

As you develop a proposal to oversee access to the Internet, we urge you to adopt strong and enforceable open Internet rules that proactively protect Internet users from unfair practices, including the blockage of lawful traffic or discrimination among content providers by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The rules must preserve the Internet as the open platform that it is today by recognizing our nation's communications providers as common carriers. Without strong protections, the Internet could devolve into a closed platform in which those who pay the most can overwhelm other views and ideas.

We agree with your previous statements and those from President Obama that expressed similar concerns. ISPs will continue to explore ways to boost revenue by imposing discriminatory charges that will decrease the openness of the Internet. There is ample evidence that protecting the open Internet against such threats is critical for users and businesses alike. However, reports indicate that the current FCC proposal creates an Internet fast lane that would prioritize some Internet traffic and allow ISPs to discriminate against everyone else. The FCC cannot protect the open Internet by allowing discrimination.

We urge the FCC to use its clear authority under Title II of the Communications Act to reclassify the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service. Recognizing our nation's communications providers as common carriers under the law is common sense. Reclassification would also complement the Commission's efforts to promote innovation, competition and investment in universally available, reliable and affordable broadband infrastructure.

Over one million people have already gone on the record in support of reclassification. We urge the FCC to consider this support for strong, enforceable open Internet rules as it moves forward with the rulemaking process.

Sincerely,

CC: Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Michael O'Reilly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission