One Of My Congressmen Responded To My Pro-Net Neutrality Email

I’m going to post a picture of his email to me. It will be followed by the text of his letter as well as my response.

For the pic above, the email was copy’pasted from Gmail/Chrome to MS Word and then edited using Photoshop.

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Email text:
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Dear Mr. Vaughan,

Thank you for contacting me about Internet governance and net neutrality. It is an honor to represent the people of Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District, and I appreciate learning your thoughts on these important issues.

On May 18, 2017, the FCC voted to approve Chairman Ajit Pai’s Restoring Internet Freedom proposal, which would repeal the net neutrality regulations the FCC adopted in 2015 and adopt a “light-touch” regulatory approach. The comment period on the proposed rulemaking lasted roughly three months, and over 22 million comments were submitted. The FCC is currently evaluating these comments before they vote on the proposed rule.

I believe that a free and dynamic internet is the best way to protect consumers and to generate innovations that build on those we already take for granted. It has transformed many aspects of our lives, from staying in touch with people we care about, to finding and maintaining business opportunities, to improving entertainment, transportation, health care, education, and so much more. The internet is the most free market, nondiscriminatory innovation in human history.

I view government mandates for net neutrality that require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to treat all content on their networks the same as threats to further innovations. The so-called 2015 Open Internet Order was a solution in search of a problem. Nothing is wrong with the internet. Make no mistake about it; government interference would forever change the internet, hindering economic growth, creativity, and stifling free speech.

For instance, government interference with the internet could lead to a policy such as the “Fairness Doctrine”. The Fairness Doctrine was an FCC policy that required radio stations to cover issues of public importance in a fair manner, as defined by the authorities in power. It was eventually repealed after a period of study. According to the Congressional Research Service, the FCC came to a conclusion that, among other things, the Fairness Doctrine “likely violated the free speech rights of broadcasters [and] led to less speech about issues of public importance over broadcast airwaves.” This is not something we want for the diversity and creativity of the modern internet.

In addition, increasing federal regulation of the internet such as net neutrality could open internet services up to taxation. This would slow innovation, especially for small businesses that do not have the resources of larger, more established corporations. Taxation would also increase costs for consumers and slow the growth of the internet in rural areas.
In addition, ISPs already have private contracts with individuals in which there are legal protections in place for consumers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has historically played the role of protecting and enforcing these contracts, and thus have built up considerable expertise. This authority should remain with the FTC and not be transferred to the FCC.
The Internet must remain a free and innovative force with the power to enhance our lives, communities, and markets. While I am not a member of the committees with direct jurisdiction over issues governing the Internet, please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress continues to debate these issues.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Your comments and opinions are a vital source of information to assist me in carrying out my duties as your representative in Congress. Please visit my website at www.brat.house.gov, where you can sign up for my newsletter updates and learn more about my work in Congress on your behalf.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Dave Brat
Member of Congress

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My response:
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Congressman Brat,
Thank you for responding to my plea to keep Net Neutrality in place. I honestly didn’t expect anyone to reply and it does you credit.
I was one of the 22 million comments on this issue. Mine, like the vast majority was in support of Net Neutrality. I would urge you to reconsider your position. I was particularly stunned by this paragraph in your response,

“I view government mandates for net neutrality that require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to treat all content on their networks the same as threats to further innovations. The so-called 2015 Open Internet Order was a solution in search of a problem. Nothing is wrong with the internet. Make no mistake about it; government interference would forever change the internet, hindering economic growth, creativity, and stifling free speech.”

I do not take government involvement into anything lightly. However, government has handed a monopoly to the biggest opponents Net Neutrality; AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Verizon. That being the case, it is up to the government to keep them in check.Virtually every other freedom loving entity on the internet supports Net Neutrality.
I would urge you to visit the following sites to see what folks like me think and why:
https://www.battleforthenet.com/
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/11/today-and-every-day-we-fight-defend-open-internet
Thank you for your time.
I wish a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Eric Vaughan