WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement after Republican Commissioners on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, voted to repeal net neutrality protections:
“Today’s vote is a major blow to the internet as we know it. Chairman Pai’s legacy will be leading the surrender of the free and open internet to corporate giants, letting Internet Service Providers create internet toll lanes, and stifling the competition, innovation, and dynamism that has made the internet a bedrock of modern life. The FCC has abdicated its responsibility to protect consumers from harmful practices – and instead is passing the buck to the Federal Trade Commission to monitor these practices. The FTC is not the expert agency – and is not prepared to stop harm from happening.
“The real world implications of today’s vote could be severe and far-reaching — in New Mexico, and across the country. Ending net neutrality will make it harder for small business owners and entrepreneurs to build up a significant web presence and sell their products online. It will likely worsen the user experience of the countless New Mexicans and Americans who use the internet to stream television shows and movies instead of paying higher costs for cable. It will undermine the internet’s platform as a catalyst for free expression and innovation.
“Too many New Mexicans, especially those in rural areas, are already stuck in an internet slow lane. When it comes to internet policy, we should be working to expand broadband access and bridge the digital divide — not destroying the essential protections that keep the internet free and open.”
