NY senators on letter for open Internet

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The Federal Communications Commission is being asked to reclassify the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

In a letter sent to the FCC on Tuesday, 13 Senate Democrats point to the need for the FCC to use its authority to “prevent broadband providers from creating Internet fast lanes for those who can pay, leaving others stuck in traffic.”

The FCC is in the process of making rules on its Open Internet order and considering a proposal that could allow broadband providers to charge websites, applications and services more for faster delivery times to consumers.

As the comment period comes to a close, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with 11 Senate Democrats, are calling for an open Internet.

“Broadband is a more advanced technology than phone service, but in the 21st century it performs the same essential function,” write the lawmakers in the letter. “Consumers and businesses cannot live without this vital connection to each other and to the world around them. Accordingly, it would be appropriate for the FCC to reclassify broadband to reflect the vital role the Internet plays in carrying our most important information and our greatest ideas.”