The Case for Modern Net Neutrality Legislation

Broadband companies have long practiced net neutrality and do not block, throttle, or unfairly prioritize content. We support legislation that codifies into law open internet protections across consumers’ online experience. Only modern net neutrality rules can deliver the full protections all consumers deserve. This requires modern rules that apply not only to broadband, but also to online commerce, search, social media and other areas where significant real-world neutrality concerns have emerged. Such key points include the following:

• Broadband Companies Support MODERN Legislation: Reinstating old regulations would grant the government sweeping powers that would degrade consumers’ online experience and threaten US competitiveness.
• Net Neutrality Principles Should Apply Across the Internet: The regulations this bill seeks to reinstate pre-date the internet. Consumers deserve equitable protections across their online experience.
• Broadband is a Bright Spot for Consumers, and Economy: Today’s consumers benefit from a thriving, open, and dynamic internet, complete with countless choices and low-cost options.
• US Innovation Policy Helps Power This Success Story: Significant credit for our nation’s broadband strength is due to US innovation policy which emphasizes constructive engagement between the public and private sectors— protecting consumers while advancing investment and innovation.
• Reclassifying Broadband = Dramatic Reversal: If reaching back to the distant past for regulatory authority doesn’t protect consumers from new online platforms and only governs companies that already practice net neutrality, then what does this retro approach achieve?
• Only Congress Can Deliver a Modern Approach: A modern statute should focus on securing open internet principles across the connected world—without granting the government broad powers over virtually all aspects of consumers’ online experience.

The bottom line: Resuscitating rules from the pre-internet past is no way to govern our nation’s connected future.