FCC Votes to Advance Proposal Rolling Back Net Neutrality Protections

Today, the FCC voted to approve the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to roll back net neutrality protections for Americans by a 2-1 vote. The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is committed to preserving a strong open internet, and the approved proposal by President Trump’s FCC represents a significant step back from essential net neutrality protections.

“Net neutrality should not be used as a political tool: preserving an open internet is good for both users and the growth of business. The internet is designed to serve as an open platform that encourages free expression and sparks new ideas. Unfortunately, attempts to repeal net neutrality protections are a direct threat to these values and to the rights of internet users. Under the terms of the proposal, there would be no safeguards to prevent internet service providers from blocking or slowing down content, fundamentally transforming the internet we currently enjoy,” said Ferras Vinh, CDT Policy Counsel.

“This proposal represents an existential threat to the continued development of the internet. It is based on the idea that societal change and economic growth are driven by internet service providers, rather than users, coders, and engineers. The American public resoundingly supports net neutrality protections, and CDT encourages them to contact their elected officials, and speak out through the FCC comment process,” Vinh added.