Protect the Open Internet

[Commentary] The claims by US House and Senate Republicans that the Obama Administration strong-armed the Federal Communications Commission in its rulemaking are offensive to the millions of Americans who have helped shape the FCC's order by participating in the rulemaking process. The federal rulemaking process is more transparent, responsive, and nonpartisan than congressional solutions to net neutrality or ad hoc litigation.

The time for strong net neutrality rules is now. Americans overwhelmingly support strong net neutrality rules, and the entire Internet ecosystem -- consumers, content providers, and Internet service providers alike -- stands to benefit from strong, bright-line rules that encourage the virtuous cycle of domestic capital investment, innovation and competition through an open Internet. I strongly support the FCC’s efforts to ensure this virtuous cycle of innovation and competition by issuing strong rules to protect the open Internet, and I call on my Republican colleagues to stop playing games. The stakes are too high for anything less.