Congressman Gonzalez Statement of Support for Net Neutrality

WASHINGTON— Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) has announced his opposition to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) plan to repeal current Net Neutrality regulations that ensure a free and open internet.

"Dismantling crucial Net Neutrality regulations is reckless and without warrant," Congressman Gonzalez said. "From students to small business owners, the repercussions of the FCC's proposed changes will be felt by internet users across the country. We should be leveling the playing field and closing the digital divide, not allowing companies to put up roadblocks to affordable internet service. I strongly urge the FCC and Chairman Ajit Pai to listen to the American people who have overwhelming requested that he abandon this misguided plan."

As a former small business owner, Congressman Gonzalez knows first-hand that Net Neutrality has played an important role in expanding access to information and opportunity via the world wide web. The congressman believes that the FCC's new plan would have damaging effects on the flow of and access to information.

Congressman Gonzalez sent a personal letter to FCC Chairman Pai stating his and his constituents' clear opposition to the proposed repeal of Net Neutrality.

On November 21, 2017, FCC Commissioner, Jessica Rosenworcel, released a statement expressing her discontent with plans to roll back Net Neutrality and underscoring the importance of maintaining a strong internet economy. The FCC Commissioner has also specified that public hearings would be held throughout the country to address the proposal before a vote is taken on the issue.

Congressman Gonzalez will remain a strong supporter of an affordable, accessible, and open internet. Read the letter below.

November 28, 2017

The Honorable Ajit Pai

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20554

Dear Chairman Pai:

I am writing you today on behalf of hundreds of constituents of the 15th District of Texas who have contacted me just within the last few days regarding the issue of Net Neutrality being considered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These individuals took time over the Thanksgiving holiday to voice their opposition to your plan.

During the past few months, I have followed these issues carefully and have reviewed some of the comments made by you and other FCC leadership. It is alarming that throughout the course of your deliberations, one must look far and wide for advocates of your proposal. Additionally, I have not heard from a single constituent in South Texas who is in favor of giving up Net Neutrality.

It appears you are prepared to lead the FCC in a direction towards Net Favoritism instead of Net Neutrality, against the weight of the evidence, past experience, and even against public interest. Changing how people view, receive, and pay for internet use via Net Neutrality will more than likely allow large internet companies to begin charging service fees for downstream providers, which will in turn be passed on to consumers.

You have proclaimed that the end of Net Neutrality is to the benefit of small business, but I strongly disagree with this assessment. Never mind the hundreds of messages, letters, and communications from small businesses stating the exact opposite: that Net Neutrality will hurt them and force them to pay additional fees to an internet service provider (ISP) to display their website with proper speeds after lifting internet neutrality. You have cited Facebook, Amazon, and Google, which allege to have flourished under the "light-touch" rules, as they are known at the FCC. Recently, the Google Wallet app was blocked by a competitor with an ISP through a competing app, which you called an "outlying" example.

Finally, you have asserted that small businesses could help connect rural communities to the internet highway. Even knowing that small internet and telecom companies essentially rent their use of the network owned by the largest of all telecom companies. And while a quarter of a billion dollars is a drop in the bucket towards expanding the internet, my question to you is, ‘do you think it will come from small firms?' The definite losers in this battle are the startup enterprises, the mom and pop shops, and the entrepreneurs - those who are not yet robust enough to weather the blow of these grave changes.

I request that you reconsider your position and that you do the right thing: keep Net Neutrality in place so consumers and small businesses can continue to have access to affordable and accessible internet.

Should you have any questions, or wish to discuss this with me in greater detail, please contact me at (202) 225-2531.

Sincerely,

Vicente Gonzalez

Member of Congress