On the recordNovember 9, 2011
to be sure, there are those who disagree with the FCC's open Internet rules, and there is an avenue for these complaints. It is called the judicial system. Some are using it. Two companies have filed lawsuit claiming that the FCC went too far. Several public interest groups have filed lawsuits claiming that the FCC did not go far enough. It is their legal right to go to the courts, and when they choose to do that, they can do so. So let's think for a minute what a world would look like without a free and open Internet. In a world without a free and open Internet, consumers and entrepreneurs would have no transparency as to how their broadband providers would manage their network--no ability to make informed decisions about their broadband providers. In a world without a free and open Internet, there would be nothing to prevent their broadband providers from steering them only their to preferred Web sites and services, therefore limiting their choices as consumers. For rural Americans, broadband Internet access has the power to erase distances and allows them to have the same access to shopping, educational matters, and employment opportunities as those living in urban areas. That is a time-honored principle around here--but not if the Web site they seek to access is blocked by their broadband providers. Consumers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses need the certainty they can access lawful Web sites of their choice when they want, period.…
