Skip to main content

Schakowsky Votes to Restore Net Neutrality

April 10, 2019

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, voted today in favor of H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 232-190.

“The Trump Administration’s attack on net neutrality ceded control of the Internet to powerful broadband providers at the expense of small businesses and consumers. It fits right in line with the Republican agenda to favor the wealthiest corporations while eliminating protections for the rest of us,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “Broadband providers have been allowed to control consumers’ access to content. This legislation enacts specific rules against blocking, speed throttling, and paid prioritization – tools that will favor people and companies who will spend more at the expense the average consumer.”

The Save the Internet Act also restores authorities the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) used starting in 2016 to fund broadband for low-income Americans, including veterans, seniors, students, and disabled Americans, under the federal Lifeline program that previously subsidized phone service. Passage of this law would also encourage further investment and deployment of internet infrastructure by providers, which were struck down by the FCC in 2017.

###