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[Page S3358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NET NEUTRALITY
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is hard to believe that this week marks
1 year since the Trump administration and Federal Communications
Commission Chairman Pai, chose to reverse the Commission's stance on
net neutrality. What is net neutrality? The principles are simple.
Internet service providers should be required to treat all internet
content and traffic equally. They should not be able to block access to
websites, to reduce the speeds at which consumers browse the internet,
or charge consumers more based on the types of websites they are
visiting.
The Trump administration believes that companies should be able to
freely block or slow down consumers' access to the internet in the
interest of higher profits. My Democratic colleagues and I believe that
all content should be treated equally, and corporate financial
interests should not be more important than protecting American
consumers.
The fact is that most Americans agree with us. The decision to
rollback net neutrality was unpopular a year ago, and it remains
unpopular today. In March of 2019, a poll conducted by tech research
firm, Comparitech, found that four in five Americans support net
neutrality.
Make no mistake, at times, it seems like we are living in one of the
most partisan times in our Nation's history, but on the topic of net
neutrality, 86 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of Independents, and 77
percent of Republicans support protecting a free and open internet for
American consumers.
Now more than ever, constituents are engaging with the issues of the
day and are willing to let their elected officials know their views on
what is important to them. I can tell you that, of the physical mail
and emails my office receives, net neutrality has been one of the most
important issues to Illinoisans. Since January 20, 2017, my office has
received almost 200,000 letters on the topic of net neutrality, and by
a mile, constituents are in support of the principles of net neutrality
and want to reverse the action taken by the FCC.
I have got news for you: the Members of the House have heard their
constituents loud and clear. Two months ago, the House passed the Save
the Internet Act that would reaffirm the government's commitment to net
neutrality and prevent major corporations from slowing down, blocking
access to, or charging more for certain websites. When this bill
arrived in the Senate, what have we chosen to do? A measure containing
principles that 77 percent of Republicans support and received
bipartisan support last Congress? Not a thing.
Leader McConnell and Republicans have instead proceeded to turn the
Senate into a legislative graveyard. They have prioritized doling out
lifetime appointments to our Federal courts while refusing to take
action on many of our Nation's pressing most issues, including
demonstrating a commitment to upholding a free and open internet.
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