Lawmaker was first to introduce net neutrality legislation in Congress in 2009

Washington (February 19, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Wheeler announced his plans to reinstate the Open Internet Rules that were struck down by the D.C. Circuit Court last month.

 

“Chairman Wheeler is taking an important step to protect what has become the world’s greatest platform for innovation, job-creation and economic growth: the Internet. I am pleased to see the Chairman moving forward to reinstate rules on strong legal footing that preserve the open nature of the Internet. I look forward to working with the FCC to ensure the Commission moves quickly to re-adopt no-blocking and nondiscriminatory rules and ensure the Internet remains a level playing field for consumers and innovators.”

As former Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s telecommunications subcommittee, in 2009 then Rep. Markey introduced H.R. 3458, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act. Earlier this month, Senator Markey joined with Senators Blumenthal, Franken, Udall, Wyden and Merkley to introduce S. 1981, “The Open Internet Preservation Act” to restore rules until the FCC took new, final action in the Open Internet proceeding. Representatives Henry A. Waxman and Anna Eshoo introduced companion legislation in the House.