Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) issued the following statement in response to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to fully repeal net neutrality rules. The proposed plan from the FCC would eliminate the agency’s core net neutrality rules, which prohibit internet service providers from blocking certain websites, slowing web traffic, or negotiating paid prioritization with websites for fast lanes to consumers. The final FCC vote will come this December.

“Strong net neutrality protections must be in place to maintain a truly open and free internet,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “The changes announced by Chairman Pai would undermine protections that level the playing field for consumers and small businesses. First, the current administration allowed Internet Service Providers to sell Americans’ personal information and private browsing history -- now they are moving to remove any assurances to protect the dynamic freedom and openness of the internet. We need a legislative solution to protect net neutrality and I will urge my colleagues to take action to preserve the internet as free, fair, and open. These protections should not be subject to the whims of one administration to the next. Congress must act to make these protections reliable and permanent.”