August 02, 2024

Wyden, Markey Statement on Harm Caused by Sixth Circuit Net Neutrality Ruling

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., issued the following statement today after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit stayed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s rule reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act and reinstating net neutrality protections:

“The Sixth Circuit’s stay will leave Americans without critical net neutrality protections and leave the Federal Communications Commission without its rightful authority over broadband. That is unacceptable. We need net neutrality to protect the free and open internet and ensure that internet gatekeepers cannot control what we see, who we talk with, and how we communicate online.”

In April 2024, Wyden and Markey led a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel urging the FCC to finalize a strong net neutrality rule. In September 2023, Wyden and Markey led 25 of their Senate colleagues in writing to the FCC urging it to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act and restore net neutrality protections. In July 2022, Wyden and Markey introduced the Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act, which would accurately classify broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act. In 2006, the senators introduced the first neutrality bills in the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively.