Dear Mr. Hawkes,
Thank you for contacting me regarding net neutrality. I appreciate you taking the time to write. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate and I hope you will continue to write with your thoughts and ideas on moving our country forward.
On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to reverse the 2015 Open Internet Order. In 2015, the FCC reclassified broadband services under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 was originally designed to regulate the legacy telephone network.
While I strongly support preventing Internet companies from blocking or slowing consumers, the 2015 order relied on a 1930s portion of law, which was never intended to regulate the Internet. Using outdated regulation to police Internet companies threatens innovation and investment in the Internet. The FCC’s latest decision provides a new opportunity to find a way forward on bipartisan legislation that permanently prevents companies from blocking or slowing consumers. I support such a legislative approach to ensure this issue is resolved once and for all instead of leaving it up to the whim of the FCC.
Again, thank you for contacting me, and do not hesitate to do so again when an issue is important to you.
Cory Gardner
United States Senator