Dear Xxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) efforts to implement new regulations for the Internet. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views.

The Internet has seen extensive growth over the last two decades and has become a critical part of our everyday lives. It has revolutionized how we conduct business, communicate with friends and family, and obtain news and information. The Internet serves as a means to exercise our right of free speech enshrined in the First Amendment, a right we must guard vigilantly.

The debate over whether and how to regulate the agreements between wireless networks and handset producers – known as “net neutrality” – is ongoing, and it encompasses everything from mobile phones to laptop computers. Last year, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski laid out six basic open Internet principles that will guide future net neutrality issues such as the content Internet Service Providers and mobile phone providers deliver to their customers. These include the affirmation that consumers must be able to access lawful Internet content, applications, and services of their choice and the ability to attach non-harmful devices to networks.

The announcement of these principles was followed by a National Broadband Plan developed by the FCC. The 10-year plan included a number of changes to the way in which the FCC proposes to increase access to the Internet and how it is regulated. Chairman Genachowski recently signaled that he would move forward with new changes to the way broadband services are regulated. This effort, however, has been delayed due to a recent federal appeals court ruling that stated the FCC did not have the authority to sanction Comcast for violating FCC net neutrality principles. Comcast had been caught lowering the bandwidth speed of its users downloading large amounts of data through a popular peer-to-peer file sharing program.

To circumvent this recent ruling, the FCC has proposed to regulate broadband by changing the classification of broadband services from Title I Information Services to Title II Telecommunications Services. In doing so, the FCC believes they can create new broadband rules without Congressional action, which the court ruling clearly suggests is necessary to move forward in making such a dramatic shift in how the Internet is regulated. You will be pleased to know that I recently sent a letter to Chairman Genachowskiurging him to not move forward with this reclassification and adhere to the Court’s decision.

Please be assured that I will continue to monitor new rules affecting net neutrality, and I will be sure to keep your views in mind as these measures are debated in Congress.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to visit my website at www.chrislee.house.gov to sign up for email newsletter updates on issues that are important to you.

Sincerely,

CHRISTOPHER J. LEE
Member of Congress