Sharing the press release…
Sen. Tina Smith Throws Support Behind Proposal to Restore Net Neutrality
Joins Nearly 40 Senate Colleagues in Fight to Overturn Recent FCC Decision That Ended Net Neutrality Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/09/18]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) backed a Senate effort to restore the national net neutrality protections that were recently gutted by President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
“Net neutrality is the basic—but important—principle that what we read, view, and watch on the internet is free and open to everybody,” said Sen. Smith. “And that principle has long allowed for the internet to be a pillar of innovation that powers our modern economy. Tearing up net neutrality gives giant internet service providers the ability to pick and choose how Minnesota families, schools, and businesses use the internet. We can’t let that happen, which is why I’m backing the effort to restore the net neutrality protections that millions of Americans fought to establish.”
Last month, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai went against the will of a majority of the American people by scrapping the federal rules that prohibit internet service providers—like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon— from blocking, slowing down, or discriminating against content online. Repealing those net neutrality rules could lead to higher prices for Minnesota consumers, slower speeds, or even blocked websites. A recent poll showed that 83 percent of Americans do not approve of the FCC action to repeal net neutrality rules.
Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has pledged to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would undo action by the FCC and restore the 2015 net neutrality rules, and Sen. Smith added her name to that effort today.
This isn’t news. Senator Smith is just reiterating the tired talking points of Ex-Senator Franken and the Democratic party. Maybe she should read the comments filed in the Restoring Internet Freedom Docket by the ACA which included comments from several Minnesota companies who believe in Net Neutrality and actually provide Internet Services. The provide facts of how they were being adversely affected by the 2015 Title II regulation that was misrepresented by the previous FCC Chairman as “Net Neutrality”. She needs to understand that the Restoring Internet Freedom Docket FCC action was not about Net Neutrality, but about unnecessary Government regulation that stifled investment in expanding rural broadband. I’m surprised that The Blandin Foundation has ignored this “unintended consequence” of the 2015 FCC order since their mission is to support rural broadband expansion. The Internet has thrived and grew for many years before the 2015 FCC action and came to a screeching halt with the 2015 FCC ruling that was rolled back by this order under Chairman Pai. If Senator Smith or The Blandin Foundation need a copy of these comments, just let me know and I’ll be happy to forward a copy of the filed comments.
Last month, the blog featured guests post from the MN Telecom Alliance https://blandinonbroadband.org/2017/12/22/guest-post-mn-telecom-alliances-position-on-net-neutrality/ and BEVCOMM https://blandinonbroadband.org/2017/12/22/guest-post-rural-minnesota-providers-view-on-net-neutrality/ and their takes on Net Neutrality and Title II.
If you want to send me (atreacy@treacyinfo.com) the filed comments, I’d be happy to peruse them – especially if you think the blog posts above didn’t cover the issues.
Sometimes the news is in what people choose to highlight or in the phrasing. So even if a topic isn’t “news” to me, if it relates to Minnesota and broadband I try to cover it. It helps create an archive of what folks are saying and when.
Your comments are absolutely a welcome addition to that conversation! Thanks for chiming in! Just let me know if you’d be interested in authoring a guest post too.