Members of the United States House of Representatives responsible for sending letters to the Federal Communications Commission over net neutrality concerns have received more than double the average campaign contributions from telecommunication companies over a two-year window. The contributions, tracked by Maplight, shows the funds that the politicians of both parties have received via political action committees and employees of organizations.
The FCC voted 3-2 on Thursday to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking, initiating a public comment period on several approaches to “protecting and promoting the open internet,” including reclassifying the internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act. The 28 representatives signing letters to the FCC against Title II reclassification of the internet as a public utility, a position allied with the cable industry, have received, on average, $26,832 from the cable industry, 2.3 times more money than the average for all members of the House of Representatives, $11,651. Republicans signing the letters against Title II reclassification of the internet as a public utility have received, on average,$59,812 from the cable industry, 5 times more than the average for all members of the House, $11,651.
