50 mayors tell FCC Chairman Pai to not overturn net neutrality rules

A group of 50 US mayors sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai in a collective effort to ask that he keeps the current rules, which are based on Title II of the Communications Act, in place.

The mayors wrote that maintaining an open internet is crucial to drive economic and educational benefits to a community. “Our economies, educational institutions, government agencies, and communities, in general, increasingly rely on broadband connectivity and the transformative power of the internet to drive economic growth, individual and community development, and improve government service and accountability for all our citizens,” the mayors said. “Critical to our communities’ reliance on the internet is the confidence that our use of the internet is not subject to the whims, discretion, or economic incentives of gatekeeper service providers to control or manipulate the experience of internet users.”

Another concern cited is the FCC’s proposal to preempt state and local government’s ability to develop policies that take into account the unique needs and profiles of each community. “Each city, town, village, county, and state in this nation is unique, and faces its own challenges in embracing the digital future,” the mayors said. “The commission’s proposal prohibits local leaders such as ourselves from protecting our constituents, businesses, and economies from abusive service.”