Mr Cornyn,
I am the owner of a small tech firm (http://frontside.io) that employees 6 people in Central Texas, so I can assure you that I am driven by pragmatism rather any ideological consideration. Like you, I am concerned with my people and the best way to ensure their continued prosperity.
That is why I find it less important the fashion in which my rights are protected, so long as they remain protected. I am not crazy about net neutrality being enforced by the FCC, but I am, without a doubt, dead set on its enforcement through one means or another. Right now, the FCC is the only governmental body making any stand to protect the fairness of our networks, and so lacking a better option, I feel obligated to support them. If you could commit publicly to a plan to protect net neutrality that does not involve over-regulation or the overreach of a regulatory body such as the FCC, then I would engage with it vigorously, but at the moment the loudest voice in the debate is your colleague and co-senator Ted Cruz mocking net neutrality as the “obamacare of the internet”.
I find that deeply offensive.
Net neutrality is the foundation on which the internet has been built. I think we can all agree that the internet and its equal regard for both the big guy and the little guy have been of clear benefit to the greater good over the past twenty years. To put it in commercial terms, the internet boom has been an oil gusher of cash that has rained down on all of humanity, and especially Texas. Think about that for a moment before you upset that establishment either through action or inaction.
I know I represent a small company, which means that I represent a small interest. But what I can tell you is that if you offer a comprehensive and robust alternative to the FCC that protects our net neutrality, then I would support it, and you, wholeheartedly.
If you wish to discuss this further I would be happy to do so. You can contact me via email, twitter, or phone (all listed below)
Sincerely,
Charles Lowell
Austin, Texas