Free Press Action Fund Applauds Open Internet Champions

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, the Senate held debate on the Republican-led effort to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet rules. Sens. Maria Cantwell, Al Franken, John Kerry, Jay Rockefeller, Mark Udall and Ron Wyden spoke out in opposition to the “resolution of disapproval,” which would strip the agency of its authority to protect consumers against Internet providers intent on blocking or slowing access to websites, services and applications.

Free Press Action Fund President and CEO Craig Aaron made the following statement:

“We applaud the senators who stood up for the American people and opposed this dangerous resolution, which would eliminate the basic protections the FCC put in place to prevent Internet service providers from becoming the ultimate gatekeepers to the Web.

“The co-sponsors of this resolution spent a lot of time arguing against Net Neutrality, yet they fail to recognize that the open Internet they speak so highly of was founded on these principles. The rules adopted by the FCC were, if anything, too weak, but Congress should not take away the Commission's longstanding authority and crucial responsibility to protect Internet users and preserve the open Internet for future generations.

“Regulating the few powerful corporations that control Internet access is not the same thing as regulating the content and applications that flow over this network. The only reason we’re having this debate today is because the Bush-era FCC made the wrong decision regarding its own authority over Internet-access services.

“President Obama has vowed to veto the resolution should it pass in the Senate, but we hope it doesn’t get that far. It’s clear that the American public overwhelmingly supports Net Neutrality. The Senate should stand with the people in defense of the right to communicate freely online.”