WASHINGTON -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted Tuesday to approve House Joint Resolution 37, which would nullify the Federal Communications Commission’s recently approved Net Neutrality rules.
Craig Aaron, managing director of the Free Press Action Fund, made the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed that the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to throw out the FCC’s Net Neutrality order. It’s unfortunate that the open Internet, which once enjoyed such broad bipartisan support, now has become the victim of special-interest politics and political grandstanding.
“While the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules are imperfect, they are a first step toward ensuring that Internet users can be protected from phone and cable companies seeking to stifle innovation and pad their profits on the backs of their subscribers.
“The viability of the Internet is inextricably tied to openness. We thank the committee members who voted to safeguard the open Internet. We hope the Senate will follow their lead and give the innovators, entrepreneurs and little guys out there in a garage somewhere the chance to dream up and create the next Google, Facebook or Skype without interference from the dominant Internet service providers.”