Earlier today, Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-05) and Keith Ellison (MN-05) led 34 other Democrats in urging FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to protect Net Neutrality by using the FCC's Title II powers.
Here were the 34 signers:
Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Mike Capuano (MA-07)
Andre Carson (IN-07)
David Cicilline (RI-01)
John Conyers (MI-13)
Pete DeFazio (OR-04)
Donna Edwards (MD-04)
Sam Farr (CA-20)
Alan Grayson (FL-09)
Rush Holt (NJ-12)
Mike Honda (CA-17)
Jared Huffman (CA-02)
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Barbara Lee (CA-13)
John Lewis (GA-05)
Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)
Alan Lowenthal (CA-47)
Betty McCollum (MN-04)
Jim McDermott (WA-07)
Jim McGovern (MA-02)
Jerry Nadler (NY-10)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
Beto O’Rourke (TX-16)
Mark Pocan (WI-02)
Charlie Rangel (NY-13)
Tim Ryan (OH-13)
John Sarbanes (MD-03)
Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
Bobby Scott (VA-03)
Jose Serrano (NY-15)
Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)
Mark Takano (CA-41)
John Tierney (MA-06)
Pete Visclosky (IN-01)
Here is the text of the letter:
Dear Chairman Wheeler,
As you develop a proposal to oversee access to the Internet, we urge you to adopt strong and enforceable open Internet rules that proactively protect Internet users from unfair practices, including the blockage of lawful traffic or discrimination among content providers by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The rules must preserve the Internet as the open platform that it is today by recognizing our nation’s communications providers as common carriers. Without strong protections, the Internet could devolve into a closed platform in which those who pay the most can overwhelm other views and ideas.
We agree with your previous statements and those from President Obama that expressed similar concerns. ISPs will continue to explore ways to boost revenue by imposing discriminatory charges that will decrease the openness of the Internet. There is ample evidence that protecting the open Internet against such threats is critical for users and businesses alike. However, reports indicate that the current FCC proposal creates an Internet fast lane that would prioritize some Internet traffic and allow ISPs to discriminate against everyone else. The FCC cannot protect the open Internet by allowing discrimination.
We urge the FCC to use its clear authority under Title II of the Communications Act to reclassify the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service. Recognizing our nation’s communications providers as common carriers under the law is common sense. Reclassification would also complement the Commission’s efforts to promote innovation, competition and investment in universally available, reliable and affordable broadband infrastructure.
Over one million people have already gone on the record in support of reclassification. We urge the FCC to consider this support for strong, enforceable open Internet rules as it moves forward with the rulemaking process.
Sincerely,
CC: Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Michael O’Reilly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
The letter was also endorsed by American Civil Liberties Union, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Free Press, Democracy for America, Moveon.org, CREDO Action, Demand Progress, Daily Kos, The Other 98%, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Color of Change and Presente.org.