Dear Mr. Wagner,
Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts regarding net neutrality. I appreciate hearing from you on this matter.
As you know, net neutrality is the idea that internet providers and governments should treat all data on the internet equally and not discriminate based on the type of content. In 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved an Open Internet Order, which prohibits broadband providers from blocking or discriminating against Internet content, making net neutrality the law.
There is no question that the advancement of the Internet has spurred huge opportunities for all Americans and substantially enhanced our national economy. Access to the Internet has moved from a luxury to a necessity. As a result of the substantial increase of Internet demand, more pressure has been put on the existing infrastructure, and additional enormous investments in infrastructure are necessary in order to accommodate this ever-growing demand.
In order to ensure that we benefit from the innovation and investments that have made the Internet what it is today, there must be incentives for Internet providers to make the necessary investments. I believe it is appropriate for the marketplace to signal where and how those investments should be made, rather than creating a government-run, one-size-fits-all system.
Cell phones are a good example of how the marketplace works to benefit the consumer. Over the last 20 years, consumers have gone from paying a substantial per-minute charge for every call, to sweeping, unlimited usage packages that are the norm for most consumers today. This was all done without government direction or interference and proves the market works better than government direction.
Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should legislation dealing with net neutrality come to the House floor for a vote. Thank you again for contacting me with your thoughts. For additional information regarding current legislation and my representation of the 5th District, please visit www.salmon.house.gov and sign up for my electronic newsletter. You can also join the conversation on Facebook or on Twitter (@RepMattSalmon).
Sincerely,
Matt Salmon Member of Congress