Congress Needs to Stick to the Facts on Net Neutrality
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Congress will convene the first of five hearings on the FCC’s new Net Neutrality rules. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, “FCC Process: Examining the Relationship Between the FCC and the White House,” is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
On Feb. 26, the FCC voted to reclassify broadband access under Title II of the Communications Act — the step needed to provide real Net Neutrality protections for Internet users.
Free Press Action Fund Policy Director Matt Wood made the following statement:
“The only surprise about the Open Internet rules is that there is no surprise. They're what FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said they would be. They’re a return to the law, and a common-sense approach to protecting Net Neutrality, promoting competition and broadband access, and preserving Internet users’ rights.
“Congress should be cheering the FCC for listening to the millions of Americans who called for real Net Neutrality. We now have a legally sound means to stop phone and cable company plans to block, throttle and discriminate against online content. That’s a good thing for anyone who wants users to remain in control of their Internet experience.
“The phone and cable lobby and their allies in Congress need to stop spreading lies about the Net Neutrality rules. They’re not Obama’s secret plan to take over the Internet. They’re not turning Internet access into a rate-regulated public utility and they’re not online censorship. They simply rely on the vital legal principles in Title II, adopted and updated by Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis.
“Before members of Congress indulge in any more conspiracies about the FCC rules, they should take the time to read them. As Congress questions Chairman Wheeler, members need to stick to the facts and ignore the many fictions spun by industry lobbyists. These rules are an example of Washington actually working for the people — responding to a massive public outcry to protect Internet users and keep powerful corporations in check."
