OTI Urges Senate to Remove Anti-Consumer, Anti-Innovation Rider from Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a spending bill that jeopardizes net neutrality and the FCC’s hard-fought efforts to protect consumers. The bill includes a “rider” that would prohibit the FCC from fully implementing the recently-enacted Open Internet Order. The committee rejected an amendment by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) to remove the rider from the bill. The White House described a similar rider in a House bill as “highly problematic” and “ideological.”

The following statement can be attributed to Joshua Stager, Policy Counsel for New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“We are disappointed by today’s vote and wish more senators had voted to support consumers and small businesses. As currently drafted, the bill jeopardizes Internet freedom and handcuffs the FCC’s ability to protect online innovation. We thank Senator Coons for his leadership and urge the Senate to fix this legislation before it advances any further.”