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I just got this letter from him, and I don't understand it at all! I received an email this AM stating Deal had voted against net neutrality and to call him, and I did. After reading this letter, especially the last paragraph, I don't understand? Please help!!!!
Since it's inception the Internet has operated as an open-access highway, providing unrestricted information to all. I share your desire to maintain this structure, which allows all legal content to remain equally accessible by all internet users. For this reason, I wa very concerned with efforts to pass "network neutrality" legislation, which would have increased needless federal regulation over the Internet. Such legislation would only serve to undermine the Internet as we know it.
To date there has been no evidence of anti-consumer discrimination of Internet access. Consumers across the nation are able to access all legal Internet content. Communication technologies are continually evolving, allowing for new products and business models which better meet com sumer demands. There is no evidence supporting allegations that Internet users are being denied access to legal Internet websites.
In an effort to craft legislation, which reduces regulation and encourages competition, th FCC recently adopted the Net Neutrality Principles," which outline rights of consumers to open access Internet service. The principles, which are meant to encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet, have been highly praised and were voluntarily adopted within the Internet service industry. The principles state:
o Consumers are entitles to access the lawful Internet content of their choice.
o Consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement.
o Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network.
o Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.
In order to further solidify these principles, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which i am a member, recently voted to codify the FCC;s principles while providing the Commission with explicit authority to enforce them. I strongly supported this legislation as it will help prevent anyone from limiting or controlling Internet access.
Despite such measures, some of my colleagues proposed further "network neutrality" legislation. As drafted, such proposals would create needless federal regulation over the Internet. Realizing the harm such government intervention could cause, I opposed a "network neutrality" amendment when it was offered in the Energy and Commerce Committee. I agreed with groups such as Americans for Tax Reform who argued that network neutrality would be the first step toward increased government regulation of the internet. I was particularly concerned that it could lead to taxation of the internet-concept I have vigorously opposed.
(Closing thanks you's)
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