Courtney Helps Pass Legislation to Restore Net Neutrality Protections

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass the Save the Internet Act (H.R. 1644), a bill to restore bipartisan net neutrality protections for all internet users. In December 2017, President Trump's Federal Communication Commission (FCC) repealed the 2015 Open Internet Order, the rule that established net neutrality as the law of the land. These rules prevented telecommunications companies from blocking or throttling internet traffic, and from engaging in "paid prioritization" schemes which sell internet fast lanes to the highest bidder. Courtney is an original co-sponsor of the Save the Internet Act, which passed the House by a vote of 232-190.

"This Administration's repeal of the FCC 2015 Open Internet Order was a mistake, and clearly was not carried out in the interest of internet users, small businesses, or other consumers," said Congressman Courtney. "Broadband investment surged under the open net neutrality rules, there was no reason to repeal them other than to allow big internet providers to arbitrarily subject consumers and small businesses to different levels of service to pad their own wallets. Today's passage of the Save the Internet Act is a big step toward reinstating those rules, which ensure that individuals across the country, as well as small businesses, will get the full, complete, robust benefits of the internet in a way that will not hinder innovation or further investments in broadband technology. The Senate should follow the House's lead, and move swiftly to pass this legislation in the interest of internet users and small businesses nationwide."

Yesterday, Congressman Courtney highlighted the importance of net neutrality rules and his support for the Save the Internet Act in a video posted online. Click here to see his remarks.

The Save the Internet Act restores net neutrality protections by reinstating the FCC's 2015 Open Internet Order. Similar efforts to restore the order last year resulted in a Congressional Review Act resolution that passed the Senate and had bipartisan support in the House. Important provisions of the Save the Internet Act include:

• Strengthening transparency protections, enacting specific rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, and empowering the FCC to investigate consumer and business complaints and fine internet service providers for violations of the Communications Act;
• Protecting consumers against unjust, unreasonable, and discriminatory practices, and promoting competition;
• Ensuring consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for internet plans; and
• Restoring the FCC's authority to fund broadband access for rural communities, working Americans, veterans, seniors, students and disabled Americans.