Congresswoman Lee Votes on Bold Legislation to Save the Internet
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement upon passage of H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act. This critical legislation would restore popular, bipartisan net neutrality protections for consumers and small businesses after the Trump Administration ended these vital protections in a brazen, partisan attack last year. The Save the Internet Act passed the House by a vote of 232-190.
“Your zip code, income, or geography should not determine the quality of access to the internet that any American has. Net neutrality protects Americans’ access to open, free, and fair internet, and prevents internet companies from blocking websites or slowing down their load time simply because they disagree with what the website says. This bipartisan legislation will empower the FCC to stop abusive corporate practices online, promote competition and innovation, and support broadband access and adoption for low-income communities.
“It’s time to give power back to the people, and let consumers – not service providers –control what they can access online!”
The bicameral Save the Internet Act creates popular, bipartisan and targeted net neutrality protections, and codifies the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order similar to last year’s Congressional Review Act that passed the Senate and had bipartisan support in the House:
- 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.
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