This week some U.S. Senate Democrats will try to restore Net Neutrality rules. It’s a step to reversing the FCC’s vote last year to end the regulations.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) was joined by several Seattle tech company leaders Sunday, wanting to keep net neutrality in place.
Sen. Cantwell argued ending net neutrality would lead to high prices and slower internet speeds for consumers.
“We need to protect the internet from artificially being slowed down, throttling or exorbitant prices that would affect startup companies,” she said.
Net neutrality means internet service providers, or ISPs, need to treat all web traffic the same. Last year the Federal Communications Commission repealed net neutrality. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the regulations were unnecessary.
WATCH: What is net neutrality?
Net neutrality proponents believe if the regulation is ended then ISPs would force certain websites and apps to pay more for faster internet speeds or possibly block sites altogether.
“What Congress needs to do its job and review what the FCC has done and make sure there’s an open internet,” said Glenn Kelman, President & CEO of the real estate website Redfin.
Some startups, like the company Drone Seed, are concerned they and other startups wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for higher speeds.
“It’s like a tax pre-revenue. It’s absolutely disastrous for small startups like ourselves,” said Grant Canary, Drone Seed’s CEO, who said ending the regulation would stifle innovation.
Sen. Cantwell said the Senate should vote on the measure this week.
It needs a simple majority to pass the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution. From there, it’s an uphill battle. It would need to pass through the House and the resolution would need President Trump’s signature. President Trump appointed Pai to his chairmanship.
Some Democrats, though, believe it’s a possibility. Recent polling at the University of Maryland that shows overwhelming support for net neutrality, including 75 percent of Republican voters who want to keep it in place.
Earlier this year, Washington became the first state to pass its own laws governing Net neutrality.
