Net neutrality assault can be stopped by citizens, Senate Democrats say

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ARS Technica

US Senate Democrats today vowed that they won't let net neutrality rules be eliminated without a fight, and they urged citizens to make their voices heard by lawmakers and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai.

"Remember that two years ago, nearly 4 million Americans offered comments on the Open Internet Order," Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said at a press conference this morning (video). "That’s by far, by a factor of at least two, more than any comments on any rule before the FCC in history."

But if Congress and the FCC try to eliminate net neutrality rules, there will be a "political firestorm that will make the 4 million who communicated several years ago look like a minuscule number," Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said.

Stopping the assault on net neutrality rules won't be easy, said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). "This is another one where early on it’s going to feel like we’re really pushing the rock up the hill, but if it comes down to the citizens and people at the grassroots against the special interests, we can win that," Wyden said. "I’m looking forward to that fight."

The senators did not talk much about exactly how US residents can contribute to the debate. The FCC hasn't opened a new net neutrality proceeding, but people are still submitting public comments on the one that resulted in the current rules. (There's a hyperlink titled "New Filing" that can be used to add a comment.) Since Congress may also have a hand in the fate of net neutrality rules, people with opinions can also go the classic route of calling or writing to their representatives and senators.

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