Save The Internet Act Passes House; Rep. Eshoo Leads Charge

PALO ALTO, CA -- Calling on Silicon Valley stakeholders with a laser interest in net neutrality, U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, voted Wednesday to pass the Save the Internet Act, which is intended to restore protections for consumers and small businesses after the Trump Administration repealed the 2015 Obama-era law two years later.

Eshoo made a passionate appeal to her colleagues to bring back "vital" protections on the House floor and highlighting the problems the net neutrality repeal has brought to the 18th District.

“There are companies (in the Silicon Valley) that have filed suit against Internet Service Providers because of what they’ve done,” Eshoo said. “If you don’t think that the ISPs have misbehaved, talk to the firefighters of Santa Clara County. They were fighting the worst fire in California’s history, they were being throttled, they called Verizon, and Verizon tried to sell them an upgraded plan as they were trying to save lives.”

Click HERE to watch Eshoo’s U.S. House of Representatives floor speech regarding H.R. 1644.

Eshoo was referring to Santa Clara County Fire's debacle with Verizon when it was fighting the Mendocino Fire Complex last year. The account was "throttled" as an inadequate data plan that essentially plummeted to "a dial-up speed."

Santa Clara County has maintained a keen interest in the outcome of net neutrality from a public safety standpoint. Silicon Valley businesses have also kept an eye on where the counteraction between net neutrality advocates and the forces behind Internet Service Providers takes them.

A fierce advocate for net neutrality protections, Eshoo led an amicus brief signed by over 100 representatives and senators with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year to overturn the net neutrality repeal led by the Federal Communications Commission. She has continually decried the perceived attempts of the commission to undermine net neutrality under the leadership of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

The Save the Internet Act creates net neutrality protections and codifies the FCC's 2015 Open Internet Order. Eshoo has indicated her stance on the issue has maintained broad, bipartisan support across the country from over 80 percent of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. The legislation:

• Prohibits ISPs from blocking, throttling and manipulating the Internet and keeps it open and free
• Protects consumers against unjust, unreasonable and discriminatory practices as well as promotes competition
• Ensures consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for Internet service
• Restores the FCC’s authority to fund broadband access for rural communities

Capt. Bill Murphy has told Patch that "it is imperative those services are available when we need them, and when the public needs them."

Flash forward -- net neutrality is based on maintaining a free and equal Internet -- opposed to one governed by service providers who can charge more for service or slow it down at its discretion.

The California Attorney General's Office agreed to having its legal challenge on hold until the U.S. Court of Appeals determines whether the feds can preempt a state's mandate. The Golden State wants to keep the Internet free and open to all, minus the varying speeds between favorable sites and non-favorable ones. The issue has brought about protests -- including a mass wave on Facebook.

See also

• Net Neutrality Hearing Firing Off Polar Opinions