Today, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee marked up and passed the Save the Internet Act which restores popular, bipartisan net neutrality protections for consumers and small businesses, after the Trump Administration ended these vital protections last year. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) is an original cosponsor of the legislation introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA).
“The internet, even with all its faults and shortcomings, is still an amazing thing. It makes the earth smaller and can bring us all closer together. It helps loved ones stay in touch and involved with our lives even when we’re a thousand miles away,” said Dingell. “The internet exposes us to new ideas and other walks of life, allows students to study and research, gives us quick access to recipes and ingredients at the grocery store, and – in my case as a caregiver – helps us monitor the safety of someone you love. And gone are the days where a storefront is a requirement to open a business With the internet, almost any information is available at our fingertips, instantly, whenever we want or need it. And that is the reason we need Net Neutrality. Because if a loved one is homesick, or feeling the need to watch funny video on YouTube, anyone can pull out their phone or device and make that choice. The internet is great because it’s a reflection of trillions of those choices every day – the consumer is in control of what they see and when they see it – the only obstacles should be your battery percentage and your passcode.”
The Save the Internet Act creates popular, bipartisan and targeted net neutrality protections, and codifies the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order similar to last year’s Congressional Review Act that passed the Senate and had bipartisan support in the House:
Strengthening transparency protections, enacting specific rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, and empowering the FCC to investigate consumer and business complaints and fine internet service providers for violations of the Communications Act;
Protecting consumers against unjust, unreasonable, and discriminatory practices, and promoting competition;
Ensuring consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for internet plans; and
Restoring the FCC’s authority to fund broadband access for rural communities, working Americans, veterans, seniors, students and disabled Americans.
Dingell – a member of the Communications & Technology Subcommittee – is a steadfast advocate for protecting net neutrality and consumers’ digital protections. Last year, she spoke out against the FCC’s order to end net neutrality and led a resolution in the House that attempted to repeal the order.
