Washington Sen. Cantwell calls on Senate to act on net neutrality

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell and other Democrats are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring net neutrality legislation forward for a vote.

The “Save the Internet Act” passed the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives in early April. The legislation would reverse the FCC’s 2017 repeal of net neutrality protections, and ensures no blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization occurs.

Since it passed the House in early April, Senate Republican leadership has refused to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.

“The House of Representatives has done its job — it has basically protected the internet, and taken an initiative,” Cantwell said. “It’s time for Leader McConnell to put the big cable companies out here for debate on the Senate floor, and hold them accountable.”

The House of Representatives voted to restore #NetNeutrality protections two months ago, but the bill has gone to die in Leader McConnell's legislative graveyard. Today I'm calling on him to bring it up for an immediate vote. #SaveTheInternet https://t.co/CJtgZyhcuw

— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) June 11, 2019

Predominant polling in past years has found that a vast majority of Americans on both sides of the political spectrum support net neutrality.

“The American people know better, literally. It doesn’t matter what political affiliation you have, the majority of Americans all oppose repealing protections that make for an open internet.” Sen. Cantwell said.

Over a hundred other businesses — Seattle’s KEXP radio station among them — signed an open letter to the U.S. Senate supporting the net neutrality measure.

The letter cites a handful of instances since the FCC’s net neutrality appeal, where telecom and internet providers have taken advantage of their newfound allowances. That includes Verizon slowing down the Santa Clara Fire Department’s data during a rash of wildfires, accusations that Sprint interfered with Skype as an alternative to its wireless plan, and the slowing of streaming speeds to platforms like Netflix and YouTube.

“Americans want and deserve enforceable protections that preserve net neutrality, ensure stronger broadband competition, and improve access,” the letter reads. “They don’t want big cable and phone companies controlling what they see, say, and do online.”