Washington — The House Energy & Commerce Committee has passed its“Save the Internet Act” that would overturn the FCC’s repeal of nondiscrimination rules known as “net neutrality.” The bill reinstates the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order, which set bright line rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of Internet traffic, and it was upheld by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2016.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has advocated for net neutrality for decades, including the 2015 Open Internet Order. The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“An open Internet is crucial for small businesses and consumers, and we appreciate the House Energy & Commerce Committee for its swift action and for rejecting attempts to add distracting, extraneous amendments. We look forward to the next step – before the full House – and Congress finally acting to restore strong, net neutrality rules.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is expected to rule whether it was legal for the FCC to abdicate its role in protecting consumers’ internet access. Currently, 22 State Attorneys General, many in the tech industry, including CCIA, are all arguing in briefs before the D.C. Circuit that the FCC did not have the legal authority to walk away from enforcing nondiscrimination rules. Here is CCIA’s court brief.
For media inquiries, please contact Heather Greenfield hgreenfield@ccianet.org
