Yesterday, in a major victory for consumers, small businesses and entrepreneurs, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) and her colleagues in the U.S. House passed the Save the Internet Act.  U.S. Rep. Castor is an original cosponsor of this legislation and has been outspoken on the need to restore net neutrality protections and nurture competition.

“In the 21st century, access to a free and open internet should not be limited to the wealthy – everyone deserves the right to an open internet where content is not controlled by internet service providers (ISPs) like Frontier and Spectrum,” said U.S. Rep. Castor.  “By passing the Save the Internet Act, we are defending consumers and small businesses from abusive and discriminatory practices by ISPs while safeguarding free speech and encouraging innovation.”

The Save the Internet Act restores important protections and reverses the damage done by the Trump administration in undoing net neutrality.  Protections include:

• Strengthening transparency protections: enacting specific rules against blocking, throttling and paid prioritization, and empowering the FCC to investigate consumer and business complaints and fine ISPs for violations of the Communications Act;
• Protecting consumers against unjust, unreasonable and discriminatory practices by large ISPs and promoting competition by empowering small business;
• Ensuring consumers and small businesses can make informed decisions when shopping for internet plans; and
• Restoring the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to fund broadband access for rural communities, working Americans, veterans, seniors, students and disabled Americans – so the Internet can continue to be a level playing field where all can succeed.

The bill codifies the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order, similar to last year’s Congressional Review Act that passed the Senate and had bipartisan support in the House.  In 2015, the Obama administration took important steps to ensure a free and open internet where consumers and businesses would be protected from higher costs and less online access and for innovation to be fostered for entrepreneurs.  In 2017, President Trump and his administration rolled back these protections.

“The Save The Internet Act is based upon simple net neutrality principles – no blocking, no throttling and no paid prioritization.  ISPs should not be able to control the internet – this power should be with the people.  We must work together to prevent abusive corporate practices and foster competition,” U.S. Rep. Castor continued.

U.S. Rep. Castor is a member of the powerful Energy & Commerce Committee, which has oversight over the FCC, electronic communications and the internet, and recently pressed for the Save the Internet Act and helped the legislation pass out of her committee.  She has been a vocal proponent of a free and open internet and recently held a digital Town Hall highlighting the need for net neutrality protections.  U.S. Rep. Castor also called on then-Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to stand up to the Trump administration’s rollback of net neutrality rules, met with Tampa Bay entrepreneurs to highlight the effects the rollback would have on small businesses and stood up for Tampa families and businesses when she provided a comment to the FCC during the agency’s public comment period during its efforts to rollback net neutrality protections.

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