Net Neutrality: How Major ISPs Are Spending Money In Nevada

The Federal Communications Commission announced on Tuesday plans for an order to roll back Internet regulations meant to ensure Internet service providers provide equal access to users, known as "net neutrality." The decision has been anticipated for months, but was met with intense criticism from opponents who say that removing regulations will open the door for ISPs to charge more for premium Internet access, such as a "fast lane," and possibly charging money to use certain websites or social media accounts.

Telecommunications companies have long supported the removal of such Internet regulations, which were adopted when the FCC voted to classify the Internet as a public utility in 2015. In April, Cox Communications released a statement supporting FCC chairman Ajit Pai's initiative to overturn the 2015 decision. Pai, a Republican, chairs the five person commission that is made up of three Republicans and two Democrats.

"Cox applauds FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for his announcement that he intends to overturn the previous Commission’s decision to enact Title II, the 1930s-era utility telephone regulations, as the mechanism to enforce Net Neutrality rules for broadband services. Reestablishing ‘light-touch’ regulation will return a level of certainty for consumer protections and future investment and innovation that spur the growth of the Internet," the company wrote in a press release. They went on to say they "do not block, throttle or otherwise interfere with consumers’ desire to go where they want on the Internet," and called on Congress to pass "bipartisan Net Neutrality legislation."

Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T have also released similar statements supporting the reversal of the 20165 classification. Under the order, the Internet would be reclassified as an "information service."

Here's how those four major Internet service providers have contributed money to Nevada's federal delegation through political action committees in the 2018 cycle:

Cox

• Dina Titus (D, NV-01): $5,000
• Mark Amodei (R, NV-02): $1,000
• Jacky Rosen (D, NV-03 & 2018 Senate Candidate): $2,500
• Ruben Kihuen (D, NV-04): $5,000
• Catherine Cortez Masto (D): $0
• Dean Heller (R): $5,500

Comcast

• Titus: $1,000
• Amodei: $1,000
• Rosen: $0
• Kihuen: $2,500
• Cortez Masto: $0
• Heller: $10,000

Verizon

• Titus: $0
• Amodei: $0
• Rosen: $0
• Kihuen: $2,000
• Cortez Masto: $1,000
• Heller: $7,500

AT&T

• Titus: $3,000
• Amodei: $0
• Rosen: $1,000
• Kihuen: $3,000
• Cortez Masto: $2,000
• Heller: $500

Photo via Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press