Pelosi Statement on Net Neutrality Ruling

Statement

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the Federal Communications Commission voted on partisan lines to dismantle the landmark net neutrality protections:

"The FCC's radical, partisan decision to dismantle net neutrality strikes a stunning blow to the promise of a free and open Internet. With this unjustified and blatant giveaway to big providers, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is proving himself an eager executor of the Trump Administration's anti-consumer, anti-competition agenda.

"The power of the Internet has always been rooted in its role as a level playing field where the best ideas, not the deepest pockets, succeed. Yet, today's dangerous rule change saddles consumers with higher costs and less choice, throttles competition and punishes entrepreneurs and small businesses. If implemented, these changes would rip away users' control of their own browsing experience, and put it in the hands of big providers.

"The FCC's rule change process was marked by haste, secrecy and technical flaws from the start. This arbitrary decision was made without a single public hearing and over the firm opposition of Internet experts and technologists. It is deeply disturbing that Pai's FCC has refused to take action to combat the threat of identity theft and fake comments in the agency record, and has refused to comply with FOIA requests or requests for information from the New York Attorney General's Investigation.

"Millions of Americans have stood up to demand an open, dynamic Internet free from the discriminatory dictates of providers. Members of Congress must join them by enacting Rep. Mike Doyle's resolution to overturn today's outrageous decision using the authority granted by the Congressional Review Act. If Republicans in Congress decide to ignore the will of their constituents, Democrats will turn to the courts. We expect that the courts will issue the only ruling consistent with the letter of the law and the sentiment of the American people, and will rightly find this decision illegal."

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