FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2017
Media contact: Mark Stanley, press@demandprogress.org, 202.681.7582
The following statement is in response to reporting from POLITICO tonight that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will reveal his plan to roll back net neutrality protections tomorrow to fellow commissioners. The statement can be attributed to Demand Progress Director of Communications Mark Stanley.
“Given his track record as a crusader against Americans' ability to communicate and connect, reports tonight that FCC Chairman Pai will unveil his plan to gut net neutrality protections come as no surprise. And yet the audacity of the move from Pai, a former top lawyer for Verizon, is still stunning. It represents what so many Americans have come to detest about Washington. In ignoring the millions of ordinary people from across the political spectrum who have spoken out in favor of strong net neutrality protections, Pai has chosen instead to champion the interests of the deep-pocketed industry that once employed him. Pai is paving the way for monopolistic ISPs to block and slow traffic online. The impact on free expression, democratic participation, and innovation will be devastating.
“With Pai showing no signs of straying from his catastrophic path toward a cable industry-controlled internet, it is high time all members of Congress, which has oversight authority over the FCC, take a stand and publicly oppose Pai's plan. In the coming weeks, Demand Progress will arrange constituent meetings with key members from both parties, facilitate tens of thousands of calls to Congress and help organize protests focused on lawmakers to demonstrate just how passionately Americans feel about this issue.
“Ahead of the planned December 14th FCC vote to repeal net neutrality, constituents will be watching lawmakers in Congress intently to see if they oppose Pai’s plan. If any lawmakers, regardless of party, fail to oppose Pai’s all-out assault on net neutrality, they will be held responsible by those constituents who depend on an open internet for their health care, their education, and their livelihoods.”
###