Cantwell Defends Net Neutrality, Says Consumers, Innovators Deserve Equal Access to an Open Internet
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, ahead of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai’s speech laying out his plans to end net neutrality, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement:
“Whether doing homework or creating the next technological advancement, Americans rely day in and day out on an open and free Internet. In fact, the jobs of almost three million Americans rely on a robust Internet economy.
“In 2015, we recognized that what powered the booming Internet economy, now worth almost a trillion dollars, was freedom and openness. We enshrined those principles in the FCC’s Open Internet rules, safeguarding consumers and promoting innovation.
“If Chairman Pai has his way with the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules, the FCC will create a two-tiered Internet, allowing Fortune 500 companies to pay for special Internet access. This will leave slow lanes for small businesses, and consumers, imperiling the access and innovation that drives the Internet economy.
“This is unacceptable. All consumers and all innovators deserve equal access to an open Internet. We cannot allow the FCC to imperil access to the Internet and stifle innovation.”
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