Ed Markey: “a battle has been raging online in the past year. Millions of citizens, companies, innovators, and entrepreneurs have…”

“a battle has been raging online in the past year. Millions of citizens, companies, innovators, and entrepreneurs have been sounding an alarm calling us to electronic arms. These 21st-century Netizens took to the street and they took to the Net. They raised their voices and demanded that the FCC protect the world's greatest platform for communications and commerce. Today we declare victory. Today we say the economy and the free expression of ideas depend on Net neutrality. Today we say an open and free Internet is as important as keeping our air and water clean and our roads and highways safe. Today we say Net neutrality is here to stay. Today is Internet freedom and innovation day. Just today the Federal Communications Commission is making historic decisions to enshrine Net neutrality protections. The Commission is voting to use its power to protect the tremendous power of the Internet. This battle for Net neutrality means that the Internet is protected for decades to come. It is protected for all the students and startups, for all the businesses and online buyers, for all of the inventors, the innovators, and the Internet users. By banning paid prioritization, blocking, and throttling, the FCC is applying the principles of nondiscrimination--which is what Net neutrality really is--nondiscrimination to the broadband world. This is the next chapter in the history of American innovation. It is our country's declaration of innovation.…”