Five Facts About Net Neutrality Protections

Here are five reasons why we need net neutrality protections restored and why the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed Title II reclassification brings back its ability to provide necessary oversight to this essential service: 

1. Return of Popular, Court-Tested Net Neutrality Protections: The FCC would once again prevent broadband service providers from blocking traffic, slowing down content, or creating pay-to-play internet fast lanes.
2. Provide Oversight of Broadband Outages: When households and businesses lose internet service, consumers often expect the FCC might either be able to help in the restoration or at least have information about the outage.
3. Boost Security of Broadband Networks: Without reclassification of broadband, the FCC is limited in its authority to direct foreign-owned companies deemed to be national security threats to discontinue any domestic or international broadband services—as the agency has done with telephone services.
4. Broadband Provider Oversight, Not Control: The FCC has no authority to, and no interest in, policing online speech. On the contrary, freedom of speech will be enhanced by open internet protections, because they will prevent broadband providers from blocking or disfavoring any type of online speech.
5. 'Big Tech' is an Important but Unrelated Policy Challenge: Treating broadband as the essential service it is does not in any way limit policy options related to internet-age companies that the public and Capitol Hill often collectively refer to as “Big Tech.” Certainly, there may be a need for closer oversight of “Big Tech"—but the Communications Act does not grant such authority to the FCC.