BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 10 – Welcoming President Barack Obama’s support for net neutrality, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today urged the Federal Communications Commission to protect free and open access to the Internet.
In a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, Sanders said the commission should act decisively. “As you know, President Barack Obama has made a strong statement on net neutrality and the importance of preserving a free and open Internet. I strongly agree with him and so do the American people,” Sanders wrote to Wheeler.
“You may recall that my office shared with the commission more than 40,000 comments submitted to us opposing your proposal to allow for-pay fast lanes on the Internet. Many of those comments were extremely thoughtful and made clear that ending net neutrality would be a disaster for our country, for small businesses and for the free flow of ideas.
“It is time now for you to stand with the American people and for net neutrality. It is time for you to stand up to the army of Comcast and Verizon lobbyists and institute strong rules to ensure net neutrality,” Sanders’ letter concluded.
The FCC is considering a proposal to let some companies pay for faster Internet access. Until now, most Internet providers have treated all traffic the same, the principle known as net neutrality.
Sanders last July 15 submitted to the FCC more than 40,000 comments sent to the senator’s website opposing the FCC proposal. “They told the FCC loudly and clearly that we must retain net neutrality and that is exactly what we must do. The American people understand that allowing for ‘fast lanes’ would change the fundamental nature of the Internet. It would remove the neutrality that’s been in place for decades and allow big corporations to control content online,” Sanders said.
To read Sanders’ letter to the FCC chairman, click here.
Contact: Michael Briggs (202) 224-5141
FFC You
The FCC’s Tom Wheeler seems inclined to ignore everyone and cozy up to cable corporations instead of doing the right thing.
Net Neutrality is important for everyone. It isn’t partisan. Both sides stand to lose if cable and internet companies can created paid tiers of service. Comcast could slow Fox News to favor MSNBC, which they own.
Add “a free and open internet” to the list of things we’ll need to put into the new declaration of independence…
i hate comcast!
sending this to everyone…watch the video at the end:
https://www.battleforthenet.com/?call_tool=1&source=mo
i am a captive audience to comcast where i live now and i was hoping if i move to brattleburro maybe things would be better. too many trees to use an antennae or dish for tv and at&t doesn’t have uverse here. they already have too much control. now they want to ruin our internet service…