Massachusetts' two U.S. Senators -- Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey -- have voiced support for work being done in the Massachusetts Legislature to impose state-level net neutrality.

Warren and Markey did not endorse specific proposals, but both submitted letters to a state legislative committee supporting the concept of state action to maintain free and unfettered internet access.

"Now that the FCC has abandoned its commitment to protect fair and open internet access, it's up to citizens, federal elected officials, and state and local governments to defend net neutrality," Warren wrote in her testimony.

Net neutrality is the concept that an internet service provider must treat all internet content the same -- and cannot block or slow down particular content or websites. The Federal Communication Commission adopted net neutrality rules in 2015 but overturned them in 2017, under the new chairman, Ajit Pai, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump.

A special state Senate committee that was formed to examine the issue has recommended that Massachusetts implement a state-level net neutrality policy, which would bar internet service providers operating in Massachusetts from blocking or slowing down content.

The effort has garnered opposition from internet companies and the technology industry, whose members worry about a patchwork of regulations that they would have to comply with across the 50 states.

In addition to the Senate effort, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy held a hearing earlier this month on several bills that would establish state-level net neutrality. The committee has until Thursday to decide whether to recommend passing the legislation.

Versions of the net neutrality bills were sponsored by Sen. Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, Rep. Andy Vargas, D-Haverhill, and Rep. David Rogers, D-Cambridge.

Warren and Markey both submitted written testimony to the committee stressing the importance of net neutrality.

"Massachusetts has always been a leader in the search for the next great discovery," Warren wrote. "Fair, open access to the internet has helped jet-power those advances. It has also become essential to the way we live our lives."

Warren argued that government involvement in scientific discovery is as important today as when President John F. Kennedy committed government resources to put a man on the moon.

Warren praised a decision by Attorney General Maura Healey to join a lawsuit challenging the FCC's rollback of net neutrality policies. She also praised the Senate for convening its special committee.

"The internet doesn't belong to giant internet companies. It belongs to all of us," Warren wrote. "That's why all Americans should fight to oppose the FCC's rollback of net neutrality protections and work to restore net neutrality rules."

Markey cited the importance of the internet to Massachusetts, a state where he said technology underpins 34 percent of all jobs, whether in the tech sector or in other areas like finance or health care. "Net neutrality has been an essential element for the healthy operation of the internet since its inception," Markey wrote. "Our internet economy is thriving, and we shouldn't mess with it."

Like Warren, Markey criticized Pai for "gutting" federal net neutrality rules.

Markey said without net neutrality in Massachusetts, "There is nothing stopping broadband providers from blocking websites, slowing down competitors' content, or charging Bay State innovators and entrepreneurs more to reach their customers."

"It means that big broadband is in control, and consumers and job creators are left to fend for themselves," Markey wrote.

Markey introduced a resolution in Congress that would undo the FCC's actions and restore net neutrality. Although Markey can force a vote procedurally, the vote will be largely symbolic since the chances are slim that it will pass the Republican-controlled House and Senate, much less be signed into law by Trump.