OTI Urges Clean Markup of Net Neutrality Bill

Tomorrow, a House panel is scheduled to markup the Save the Internet Act (H.R. 1644), a bill that would restore the 2015 net neutrality rules. OTI supports the bill, as do many consumer advocates, internet companies, netroots activists, and a growing number of House cosponsors.

The following quote can be attributed to Joshua Stager, senior counsel for New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“The cable industry is lobbying hard to weaken the Save the Internet Act, which is why it is important that Congress pass a clean bill. Performing legislative surgery on the FCC’s 2015 rules via amendment is unwise. Such amendments would inject uncertainty into the FCC’s legal authority and invite a raft of industry lawsuits that mire the agency in litigation.

We oppose any amendment that weakens the FCC’s authority to protect consumers or fails to give every American the net neutrality protections they deserve. We also oppose ‘delay and distract’ amendments that would drag unrelated policy debates into this bill.

The Save the Internet Act is well-crafted legislation. Congress should pass it without distraction or delay.”