WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, today responded to news that the Department of Defense is continuing to defend its decision to cut off soldiers’ access to a dozen popular Web sites despite the impact on the morale of deployed soldiers and their loved ones back home.

“I still have not heard a sound defense of this decision by the Pentagon to completely cut off access to web sites that provide a critical link between deployed soldiers and their family and friends back home,” said Rep. Markey. “Obviously protecting classified information is of paramount importance in the field and it is right for the Defense Department to prohibit computer use that would compromise military plans and operations. But I do not see how preventing a soldier or Marine from sending a video message to Mom, to a spouse, a child, or a friend improves our national security. I'm also not convinced that a lack of available bandwidth is what is really driving this decision, since countless other sites, such as gaming sites that take up considerable bandwidth, have not been blocked.”

On Tuesday, Rep. Markey sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking him to reverse the blocking decision. The Secretary has not responded to the letter yet.

“When soldiers are on their second or third deployment in harsh conditions, access to popular web sites can provide a critical link to friends and family. Providing access to these sites is not a luxury, but a key to taking care of our troops. If there is a serious bandwidth issue, I would hope the Defense Department would be willing to work with these sites to find a way to limit bandwidth issues while still providing that very necessary link to home,” added Rep. Markey.

 Find Rep. Markey's letter to Secretary Gates here.