OTI Strongly Opposes FCC Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — New America’s Open Technology Institute (OTI) today urged Congress to reject a legislative proposal that would gut the Federal Communications Commission’s recently-approved Open Internet Order. The legislation, released today by the House Appropriations Committee, would eliminate vital consumer protections, cut the FCC’s budget by $25 million, and prevent the agency from enacting meaningful net neutrality rules in the future. A House subcommittee plans to vote on the legislation tomorrow morning.

The following statement can be attributed to Joshua Stager, Policy Counsel for New America’s Open Technology Institute: This proposal ignores the millions of Americans who asked the FCC for strong net neutrality rules. By gutting the Open Internet Order and blocking future attempts to protect net neutrality, the bill tilts the Internet’s level playing field in favor of entrenched cable and telephone companies. A vote for this bill is a vote against consumers and small businesses, plain and simple. Congress should reject this legislation as swiftly as it was unveiled.