Press Release
Free Press Reminds Congress, FCC to Stand Firm on Net Neutrality
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- This week, several industry groups and members of Congress sent letters to the Federal Communications Commission either expressing concerns with, or opposing, proposed new Net Neutrality rules at the agency.
Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, made the following statement:
"We want to remind members of Congress and the other lawmakers that have come out of the woodwork this week to question Net Neutrality, that the benefits of a free and open Internet to free speech, economic innovation and democratic participation are absolutely invaluable to their constituents in the digital age. Further, this is merely the beginning of a process, not the end. Their concerns are precisely the kind of issues that the FCC is prepared to debate and discuss in its rulemaking. It should move forward as planned.
"This is a case of special interests versus real Americans. More than 1.6 million Americans have called for an open Internet, and their numbers are growing every day. The Obama administration, FCC Chairman Genachowski, FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders have echoed the public’s call with strong support for Net Neutrality. We can’t afford to lose sight of the hundreds of millions of Internet users for whom Net Neutrality will protect free speech and commerce online. They are not lobbyists, and they don’t have deep pockets and PACs. But they are citizens that depend on conscientious policymakers looking out for their best interest.
"The rulemaking next week at the FCC is a chance for all sides to weigh in on the debate, and the FCC must not allow pressure from the industry to get in the way of doing the right thing and securing an open Internet for all."
Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, made the following statement:
"We want to remind members of Congress and the other lawmakers that have come out of the woodwork this week to question Net Neutrality, that the benefits of a free and open Internet to free speech, economic innovation and democratic participation are absolutely invaluable to their constituents in the digital age. Further, this is merely the beginning of a process, not the end. Their concerns are precisely the kind of issues that the FCC is prepared to debate and discuss in its rulemaking. It should move forward as planned.
"This is a case of special interests versus real Americans. More than 1.6 million Americans have called for an open Internet, and their numbers are growing every day. The Obama administration, FCC Chairman Genachowski, FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders have echoed the public’s call with strong support for Net Neutrality. We can’t afford to lose sight of the hundreds of millions of Internet users for whom Net Neutrality will protect free speech and commerce online. They are not lobbyists, and they don’t have deep pockets and PACs. But they are citizens that depend on conscientious policymakers looking out for their best interest.
"The rulemaking next week at the FCC is a chance for all sides to weigh in on the debate, and the FCC must not allow pressure from the industry to get in the way of doing the right thing and securing an open Internet for all."
