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The Honorable John Thune
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The Honorable Bill Nelson
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The Honorable Greg Walden Chairman Energy and Commerce Committee 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 |
The Honorable Frank Pallone Ranking Member Energy and Commerce Committee 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 |
Dear Chairman Thune, Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Nelson, and Ranking Member Pallone:
A free and open internet is vital to core American values. It affects the freedom to share our thoughts and opinions freely, the ability to organize, and the opportunity to innovate and create. The principle of net neutrality – that all data on the internet should be treated equally, and internet service providers (ISPs) should not discriminate or provide preference to any data, regardless of its source, content, or destination – is what has made the internet the great engine of free expression, organizing, and economic opportunity that it is today.
Unfortunately, a radical draft order proposed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai would silence everyone’s voices and dismantle Americans’ freedoms by rolling back rules that protect net neutrality, giving companies free rein to dismantle the open internet. This proposed order would allow ISPs to control what individuals see and do on the internet without strong oversight for consumers. It departs from 15 years of bipartisan agreement from FCC chairs that the agency has both the authority and the responsibility to protect consumers and competition in the broadband marketplace. This is nothing more than an attack on the rights and freedoms of all Americans, and a gift to already powerful corporations. It is especially damaging to individuals and communities that have historically struggled to share their stories.
The current FCC rules—established in 2015 with the Open Internet Order and upheld in court—protect freedom of expression and an open marketplace for businesses to compete, free of interference from ISPs. These open internet protections are tremendously popular. They are supported by almost 80 percent of Americans in recent polling and also by millions of Americans who commented to the FCC and called Congress to keep the rules in place. Since the 2015 net neutrality protections were adopted, we have seen continued innovation on the internet and increasing revenues and investments from ISPs. Under a free and open internet, everyone wins.
In his proposed order, Chairman Pai removes even the most basic protections for all content to be treated equally online. If the order passes on December 14, ISPs will be able to slow down or even block the content of websites for any reason, stifling free speech and skewing the marketplace.
Despite his rhetoric, since becoming chairman, Pai has steadily stood on the side of big companies and made it harder for all Americans to have access to a free and open internet, and created new obstacles for Americans to connect and communicate. He has set out to not only repeal net neutrality, but to cut aid to families in low-income communities in an assault on Lifeline. Under Pai’s new policies, the digital divide will only deepen, innovative new businesses will struggle to compete, and the voices of millions will be silenced.
With the vote scheduled for December 14, we strongly urge Congress to stand up for the communities you serve by protecting net neutrality. Tell the FCC to pull the vote for this proposed order. A free and open internet protects a free and open society for all Americans—regardless of race, gender, faith, ability or disability, or socioeconomic status. These values are what make us Americans. We urge you to fight for your communities and our society.
We, the undersigned organizations, representing a diverse group of consumer, media, technology, library, arts, civil liberties, and civil rights advocates, artists, and musicians, urge you and your colleagues to support the current net neutrality rules in place, and tell the FCC to stop its proposed plan to end them.
Sincerely,
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