[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             NET NEUTRALITY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is hard to believe that this week marks 
1 year since the Trump administration and Federal Communications 
Commission Chairman Pai, chose to reverse the Commission's stance on 
net neutrality. What is net neutrality? The principles are simple. 
Internet service providers should be required to treat all internet 
content and traffic equally. They should not be able to block access to 
websites, to reduce the speeds at which consumers browse the internet, 
or charge consumers more based on the types of websites they are 
visiting.
  The Trump administration believes that companies should be able to 
freely block or slow down consumers' access to the internet in the 
interest of higher profits. My Democratic colleagues and I believe that 
all content should be treated equally, and corporate financial 
interests should not be more important than protecting American 
consumers.
  The fact is that most Americans agree with us. The decision to 
rollback net neutrality was unpopular a year ago, and it remains 
unpopular today. In March of 2019, a poll conducted by tech research 
firm, Comparitech, found that four in five Americans support net 
neutrality.
  Make no mistake, at times, it seems like we are living in one of the 
most partisan times in our Nation's history, but on the topic of net 
neutrality, 86 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of Independents, and 77 
percent of Republicans support protecting a free and open internet for 
American consumers.
  Now more than ever, constituents are engaging with the issues of the 
day and are willing to let their elected officials know their views on 
what is important to them. I can tell you that, of the physical mail 
and emails my office receives, net neutrality has been one of the most 
important issues to Illinoisans. Since January 20, 2017, my office has 
received almost 200,000 letters on the topic of net neutrality, and by 
a mile, constituents are in support of the principles of net neutrality 
and want to reverse the action taken by the FCC.
  I have got news for you: the Members of the House have heard their 
constituents loud and clear. Two months ago, the House passed the Save 
the Internet Act that would reaffirm the government's commitment to net 
neutrality and prevent major corporations from slowing down, blocking 
access to, or charging more for certain websites. When this bill 
arrived in the Senate, what have we chosen to do? A measure containing 
principles that 77 percent of Republicans support and received 
bipartisan support last Congress? Not a thing.
   Leader McConnell and Republicans have instead proceeded to turn the 
Senate into a legislative graveyard. They have prioritized doling out 
lifetime appointments to our Federal courts while refusing to take 
action on many of our Nation's pressing most issues, including 
demonstrating a commitment to upholding a free and open internet.

                          ____________________