Fight for the Future has learned that ahandful of House Democrats are shopping around a letter that echoes ISP lobbyist talking points, incorrectly claiming that the Save the Internet Act to restore net neutrality is dead and calling for the creation of a disingenuous “bipartisan working group,” modeled after the one created in the Senate by Roger Wicker and Kyrsten Sinema, who are widely seen as enemies of the effort to restore net neutrality.

The group is rumored to be led by Rep Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rep Scott Peters (D-CA) who together have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from big telecom companies. Some of the reported signers include Democrats who have a track record of siding with big cable interests over their constituents, while others may have simply been misled into signing a letter they were told was in support of net neutrality. The fact remains that not a single House Democrat voted against the Save the Internet Act, and it continues to enjoy overwhelming public support.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Fight for the Future and is posted below, is unnecessary and misleading. The Save the Internet Act passed the House with massive support, and a similar measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support just last year. The bill reflects overwhelming bipartisan consensus from voters, who overwhelmingly support the restoration of real net neutrality protections, regardless of their political persuasion. The FCC’s repeal of net neutrality also faces a court challenge, the outcome of which will dramatically change the calculus for the Save the Internet Act.

Zero net neutrality advocacy groups support the creation of such a working group — the only purpose of this letter is to amplify the cable industry’s narrative and build support for their end goal, which is to pass weak, loophole-filled legislation that claims to save net neutrality while permanently undermining it.

The letter has not yet been released, and many of the signers may not be aware of its true intent. Below is the list of reported signers. Please contact them and tell them to take their names off this misleading, anti-net neutrality letter, and instead to continue fighting on behalf of their constituents’ internet freedom.

Below is a copy of the reported letter obtained by Fight for the Future: