Senate Dems Urge 'Political Firestorm' Over GOP FCC's Net Neutrality Attacks
"I've called net neutrality the free speech issue of our time," said Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), "because the principles of our democracy are at stake"
Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed not to let net neutrality be dismantled without a fight, and urged people to be aware of recent orders by the newly Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) targeting internet equality.
The Open Internet Order, enacted in 2015, redefined the internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act in one of the FCC's most historic consumer protection moves. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), an outspoken supporter of net neutrality and consumer advocacy, organized a press conference to urge action against new FCC chairman Ajit Pai's moves to roll back those protections.
"We have to ensure that what the Republicans say about net neutrality is understood to be completely wrong," Markey said. "I will oppose any regulatory efforts...I will oppose any legislative efforts to weaken or undermine the Open Internet Order."
Watch the press conference below:
Pai has long opposed net neutrality rules and sided with corporations over consumers, but his power as a commissioner had been limited until former chair Tom Wheeler resigned at the end of President Barack Obama's term. Under President Donald Trump, Pai on Friday issued "delegated authority"--the commission's version of executive orders--bypassing the democratic process, to attack key protections and enable media consolidation.
Those orders included blocking nine internet service providers (ISPs) from taking part in the FCC's Lifeline program, which provides internet access to low-income users, just weeks after the companies had been approved. Pai also dropped efforts to cap prison phone rates and break up big cable's hold on set-top boxes.
Now, advocates worry net neutrality writ-large is next on the chopping block.
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) noted Tuesday that "two years ago, nearly 4 million Americans offered comments on the Open Internet Order. That's by far, by a factor of at least two, more than any comments on any rule before the FCC in history. We want to alert the American people that the FCC may be up to something that they don't want to happen."
"I've called net neutrality the free speech issue of our time," said Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), "because the principles of our democracy are at stake."
Although the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld net neutrality rules in June 2016, any attempts by Congress or the FCC to dismantle them will "unleash a political firestorm that will make the 4 million who communicated several years ago look like a minuscule number," Markey said.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed not to let net neutrality be dismantled without a fight, and urged people to be aware of recent orders by the newly Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) targeting internet equality.
The Open Internet Order, enacted in 2015, redefined the internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act in one of the FCC's most historic consumer protection moves. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), an outspoken supporter of net neutrality and consumer advocacy, organized a press conference to urge action against new FCC chairman Ajit Pai's moves to roll back those protections.
"We have to ensure that what the Republicans say about net neutrality is understood to be completely wrong," Markey said. "I will oppose any regulatory efforts...I will oppose any legislative efforts to weaken or undermine the Open Internet Order."
Watch the press conference below:
Pai has long opposed net neutrality rules and sided with corporations over consumers, but his power as a commissioner had been limited until former chair Tom Wheeler resigned at the end of President Barack Obama's term. Under President Donald Trump, Pai on Friday issued "delegated authority"--the commission's version of executive orders--bypassing the democratic process, to attack key protections and enable media consolidation.
Those orders included blocking nine internet service providers (ISPs) from taking part in the FCC's Lifeline program, which provides internet access to low-income users, just weeks after the companies had been approved. Pai also dropped efforts to cap prison phone rates and break up big cable's hold on set-top boxes.
Now, advocates worry net neutrality writ-large is next on the chopping block.
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) noted Tuesday that "two years ago, nearly 4 million Americans offered comments on the Open Internet Order. That's by far, by a factor of at least two, more than any comments on any rule before the FCC in history. We want to alert the American people that the FCC may be up to something that they don't want to happen."
"I've called net neutrality the free speech issue of our time," said Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), "because the principles of our democracy are at stake."
Although the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld net neutrality rules in June 2016, any attempts by Congress or the FCC to dismantle them will "unleash a political firestorm that will make the 4 million who communicated several years ago look like a minuscule number," Markey said.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed not to let net neutrality be dismantled without a fight, and urged people to be aware of recent orders by the newly Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) targeting internet equality.
The Open Internet Order, enacted in 2015, redefined the internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act in one of the FCC's most historic consumer protection moves. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), an outspoken supporter of net neutrality and consumer advocacy, organized a press conference to urge action against new FCC chairman Ajit Pai's moves to roll back those protections.
"We have to ensure that what the Republicans say about net neutrality is understood to be completely wrong," Markey said. "I will oppose any regulatory efforts...I will oppose any legislative efforts to weaken or undermine the Open Internet Order."
Watch the press conference below:
Pai has long opposed net neutrality rules and sided with corporations over consumers, but his power as a commissioner had been limited until former chair Tom Wheeler resigned at the end of President Barack Obama's term. Under President Donald Trump, Pai on Friday issued "delegated authority"--the commission's version of executive orders--bypassing the democratic process, to attack key protections and enable media consolidation.
Those orders included blocking nine internet service providers (ISPs) from taking part in the FCC's Lifeline program, which provides internet access to low-income users, just weeks after the companies had been approved. Pai also dropped efforts to cap prison phone rates and break up big cable's hold on set-top boxes.
Now, advocates worry net neutrality writ-large is next on the chopping block.
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) noted Tuesday that "two years ago, nearly 4 million Americans offered comments on the Open Internet Order. That's by far, by a factor of at least two, more than any comments on any rule before the FCC in history. We want to alert the American people that the FCC may be up to something that they don't want to happen."
"I've called net neutrality the free speech issue of our time," said Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), "because the principles of our democracy are at stake."
Although the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld net neutrality rules in June 2016, any attempts by Congress or the FCC to dismantle them will "unleash a political firestorm that will make the 4 million who communicated several years ago look like a minuscule number," Markey said.