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:
Click Here: NRL Telstra Premiership
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.
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