Ten Senators express opposition to the FCC’s net neutrality proposal

The Federal Communications Commission isn’t expected to officially release an updated net neutrality proposal until May 15th, but that isn’t stopping activists from protesting an expected provision that would allow for some “paid traffic prioritization.” And activists might have just gotten some powerful new allies. In a letter submitted to the FCC on Friday, a group of ten US senators voiced their opposition to any policy that would block or prioritize various kinds of Internet traffic.

Ten U.S. Senators, including Sens. Wyden, Warren, Franken, and Booker, today published a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in opposition to his proposed rules-changes to net neutrality that would create so-called Internet ‘fast lanes.’ As we’ve covered a half-dozen times, the proposal cuts at the heart of net neutrality’s bent on non-discrimination, by allowing by allowing preferential throttling of internet traffic. This distorts the market. The senators seem to completely understand this. Their letter addresses the proper concerns and, eloquently, pushes back against the narrative that Wheeler himself has continued to advance. It’s worth noting that several FCC commissioners have called for at least a delay of the vote on the changes, which could take place on May 15th. So, we’re racing towards the deadline here.