Remarks of Commissioner Clyburn at "Internet Freedom Now: The Future of Civil Rights Depends on Net Neutrality"

We are weeks away, from broadband providers being given the green light, to freely engage in paid prioritization, blocking, throttling, or unreasonable discrimination at interconnection points. We are weeks away from the probability, of an entirely new and even wider divide – of those that can afford to pay for priority access, and others that cannot. The Federal Communications Commission majority is fixated on those billion dollar-plus public companies, and what is best for their bottom lines, at the expense of micro-businesses, sole proprietors, and individuals that do not have the financial resources to pay a toll imposed by their broadband provider, who are now fearful of what rolling back the clock will mean for their bottom lines. We cannot remain silent while so many of our citizens are without access. We cannot hang our heads, while the need to close those digital canyons still exists. And we cannot get discouraged or weary. We must continue to push back, against those seeking to close the door for civic and economic opportunities for every American. We must continue to be heard. You are right to align the current fight for civil rights, with the fight for a free and open Internet. You are on the right side, and history will reward you mightily. I, for one, am proud to stand with you and I join the many in thanking you.