FCC Moves Forward on Net Neutrality
Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a draft proposal on new Open Internet rules, continuing the contentious debate on the best path forward in preserving the foundation of an open Internet. At this stage, the FCC is posing a series of questions and soliciting feedback from the public. The Center for Democracy & Technology, which has long advocated for strong open Internet rules, issued the following statement:
“Equal treatment of online content and services is a foundation of a free and open Internet. How the FCC resolves this issue will have a profound effect on how we live, learn, work, and play,” said Nuala O’Connor, President & CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology.
“The legal details may be complicated and controversial, but the goal is clear: We need safeguards that preserve the Internet as an open platform for innovation, competition, and the free flow of information. It is uncertain whether the FCC proposal can fully meet that goal,” O’Connor added.
“Today marks the starting line for a new conversation, not the finish line, and Chairman Wheeler seems to be asking the right questions. Everyone who values the Internet now has the opportunity to speak up and be heard,” she said.
“We all need to help the FCC forge a legally sustainable solution that represents a full commitment to preserving a free and open Internet. Individual users must be able to freely choose and access the content and services they want without interference or favoritism,” concluded O’Connor.
