On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
This is such a fascinating debate that's taking place here on the floor today. I think that anyone that considers themselves connected in the country--and I'm not talking about being connected to wealth but connectivity in terms of communications--I hope you're tuned in, because this is a consideration about preserving the open Internet and broadband industry practices. Now I don't know how many of you have spoken to your kids, but I have to tell you, if you've had a conversation with any young person in your family, and I don't remember what the average age is of Congress, but talk to young people in your district. And I want to tell you, they will say, over and over and over and over again, the way they spoke to the FCC, over 2 million people contacting the FCC, over 90 percent of them saying, Leave the Internet alone. Leave it alone. Leave it open. Leave it accessible to everyone. In just over 5 years, $250 billion has been invested by the venture capital community, which makes its home in my congressional district. And I have to tell you, I think if you took this amendment to Silicon Valley, when you go out there--and I know you travel out there--the next time, go there for an Internet 101 series, not for fund-raising, but go listen to people there. That's where the innovators are. And I have the privilege of representing them. They want an open, free, accessible Internet.
