Lawmaker is Author of Net Neutrality Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the co-author of comprehensive net neutrality legislation in the House, today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals decision in the Comcast case.

“Today the Court today threw out the previous Commission’s shoddy legal theories,” said Markey. “In light of the Court’s ruling, I encourage the current Commission to take any actions necessary to ensure that consumers and competition are protected on the Internet.  It is important to note that the Court neither called into question the wisdom of network neutrality policies nor did it exonerate Comcast for its unreasonable interference with lawful consumer Internet use.

“We are now at a crucial crossroads – do we preserve the historic openness of the Internet, which has made it the most successful communications medium of all time, or do we enable Comcast and other communications colossi to erect fast lanes and slow lanes that stifle the ingenuity and investment that have characterized the Internet since its inception? I will also continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to provide the Commission any additional authority it may need to ensure the openness of the Internet for consumers, innovators and investors through passage of H.R. 3458, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which I introduced last July with my colleagues Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).

“Clearly, the Court’s decision must not be the final word on this vitally important matter, and I intend to work vigorously to ensure an open Internet for generations to come.”

 
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