Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to undo the Federal Communications Commission’s vote to roll back the agency’s 2015 net neutrality rules. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also introduced the CRA in the House. A CRA would restore the agency’s 2015 Open Internet Order creating the rules, which the D.C. Circuit Court upheld not once, but twice. Congress has just 60 legislative days from last week’s publication in the Federal Register to use the CRA to overturn the repeal.
The net neutrality rules prevented broadband providers from blocking websites, throttling web traffic, or creating “fast lanes” only for those able to pay for prioritization. Millions of Americans expressed support for these rules by submitting comments with the FCC leading up to the 2015 Open Internet Order, and millions of Americans have opposed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to roll back these rules.
Public Knowledge opposes Chairman Pai’s deeply troubling break with almost 20 years of bipartisan FCC support for the Open Internet, and is also suing the FCC. Public Knowledge encourages all Americans to contact their representatives to demand that Congress overturn the FCC’s reckless mistake.
The following can be attributed to Chris Lewis, Vice President at Public Knowledge:
“Public Knowledge applauds Senator Markey, Senator Schumer, Congressman Doyle, Leader Pelosi, and others for their leadership introducing this resolution to overturn the FCC’s net neutrality repeal.
“When the FCC repealed the net neutrality rules in 2017, the agency failed to replace them. Instead, consumers are left with promises from broadband providers that can not just change on a whim, but already have. Not only did the FCC repeal net neutrality, but the agency took an extra step to take the FCC out of the business of protecting consumers on other broadband issues.
“Without the FCC protecting consumers, the prices of broadband continues to rise, privacy breaches online stack up, and communities are given sub-standard internet connections through redlining in urban areas and neglect in rural ones. Most Americans have little to no choice in broadband provider and so we need a consumer protection agency working on these issues.
“The CRA provides the fastest way to restore strong net neutrality rules that are wildly popular, working to produce billions of dollars in investment and innovation, and were upheld in court twice. Only in Washington, where high-paid lobbyists hold sway, is this a controversial set of rules.
“We urge Americans to contact their representatives and demand that they support overturning the FCC’s net neutrality repeal through the Congressional Review Act. Chairman Pai may have ignored millions of Americans, but their elected representatives can’t ignore you.”
You may join the conversation on the CRA using #OneMoreVote as part of our February 27 Day of Action to save net neutrality.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.