Washington D.C. — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission today voted 2-1 to advance Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to dismantle the 2015 Open Internet Order — Net Neutrality rules that prevent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from favoring particular online content, services, or applications. Access Now opposes weakening the Open Internet Order, which would harm internet users, damage innovation, and put the U.S. out of step with trading partners like Canada and the European Union.
“Special access for those who pay may be how Congress works, but it’s not how the internet works. Thanks to Net Neutrality rules, we all have the same access and the same speed on the internet. It allows startups to compete against big companies. It allows smaller blogs to compete with major newspapers.
“Congress is broken but the internet works. Unfortunately Chairman Pai wants to remove the rules that protect the free and open internet. Today, the FCC voted to advance his plan. But today also saw activists take to the streets in sweltering heat. People care deeply about this issue and they’re not going to give it up without a fight,” said Nathan White, Senior Legislative Manager at Access Now.
Access Now maintains https://www.thisisnetneutrality.org/, which monitors Net Neutrality rules and guidelines around the world. The United States has traditionally been a leader in telecom policy around the world, but undoing the Open Internet Order would put the United States out of step with global norms.
“President Trump campaigned on a promise of protecting the ‘forgotten man’ from big government and big special interests. I hope he’ll honor that promise and stand in support of Net Neutrality,” added White.