Net Neutrality Is and Has Always Been a Bipartisan Issue

Regardless of where they live or who they vote for, Americans need net neutrality rules that ensure no internet service provider can decide where we go or what we see online. Protecting the promise of a free and open internet is essential; as such, net neutrality is and will continue to be a bipartisan issue. However, divisive headlines and partisan narratives portray net neutrality as yet another politicized issue pushing the parties apart. This is a false narrative. Outside the Beltway, more than 75% of Republicans, 88% of Democrats, and 85% of Independents agree on key principles of net neutrality, including that ISPs should not be able to block or charge fees to access certain websites.

Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel as Chair and consider confirmation of Gigi Sohn as Commissioner of the FCC. With a fully staffed FCC, the agency will be equipped to restore strong net neutrality rules.

Everyone Needs Net Neutrality

Folks from all sectors depend on net neutrality every day, often without thinking about it. Farmers rely on online data from weather stations, soil maps, and other sources to help make crop management and irrigation decisions, and researchers are using data to develop easily shared resources to help farmers from across the country. Allowing providers to cut deals with one website or app, such as smart agriculture services, to serve customers faster at the expense of others will set back innovations that help farmers make the most efficient use of arable land that is quickly running out due to climate change.

Small business owners across America also rely on the open internet for a level playing field to compete with larger businesses. Just before then-Chairman Pai’s decision in 2017 to get rid of net neutrality rules and give control over what internet content you can access to big broadband companies, small ISPs, innovators, investors, and entrepreneurial support organizations noted their concern that a rollback of the rules would threaten competitive viability for small businesses.

Historically, net neutrality has united groups that are typically found on the opposite side of many issues. In October 2007, presidents of both NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Christian Coalition of America wrote an op-ed in support of net neutrality. They wrote, “when it comes to the fundamental right of citizens to participate in the political process, we’re united—and very, very worried.” After Verizon’s blocking of a NARAL text message in 2007, the Christan Coalition defended net neutrality, saying it had a right to talk, “without a phone or cable company snooping into our communications.''

Net Neutrality Began Under a Republican FCC

The FCC’s first action to enforce net neutrality was in 2005, under a Republican Chairman, Kevin Martin. The FCC approved a “Policy Statement” that defined net neutrality in four parts: 1) consumers are entitled to access the content of their choice; 2) consumers are entitled to run services of their choice; 3) consumers are entitled to connect their choice of devices; and 4) consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers. An avid defender of net neutrality, Chairman Martin sided with Democratic FCC commissioners in 2008, deciding Comcast’s slowing down of BitTorrent traffic was unlawful.

Net Neutrality Has Bipartisan Support in Congress

Although net neutrality is sometimes portrayed as a divisive issue on Capitol Hill, in reality, Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly voted for strong protections in recent years.

In 2018, Rep. Mike Coffman, a Republican from Colorado, introduced the 21st Century Internet Act. If passed, this bill would have banned throttling, blocking of content, and paid prioritization practices. Further, in April 2019, Rep. Coffman voted in support of the Save the Internet Act in solidarity with 232 Democratic members. Similar to Rep. Coffman’s bill, the Save the Internet Act would prohibit abusive practices used by ISPs.

Also in 2018, the Senate used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to vote on a disapproval of the repeal of net neutrality rules that banned predatory practices by ISPs. A CRA gives Congress the ability to reverse decisions made by federal agencies. In May 2018, the Senate passed the CRA with bipartisan support from Republican Senators Collins, Kennedy, and Murkowski.

It is clear net neutrality has long standing support across party and ideological lines. Yet, the country has lacked federal net neutrality protections since 2017. These protections to hold providers accountable and increase broadband accessibility are critical during a time when internet service is essential to everyday life. Meanwhile, some in Washington are busy preaching the narrative that net neutrality divides people, when the record shows it’s bipartisan common sense.