WASHINGTON – Today, ITI, the global voice of the tech sector, reacted to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to repeal existing net neutrality rules and called on Congress to find a permanent and balanced solution to the critical issue.

“A free and open internet is the key to many of the technologies that enhance Americans’ daily lives, our economy, and our world,” said ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield. “We must ensure that we don’t hinder the internet's transformative power or its accessibility to the nearly 3.2 billion people who use it. That’s why we must have clear rules of the road that deepen trust between internet users and providers, stimulate network investment, promote innovation, and spur economic growth.”

“American consumers and businesses cannot afford for this issue to become a game of political football,” Garfield continued. “The proposed order described today only creates greater uncertainty and impairs our ability to advance and invest in the internet of the future. It’s time for Congress to find a long-term, balanced, and bipartisan solution that enshrines the principles of a free and open internet, protects the interest of consumers and stakeholders alike, and settles this matter once and for all.”

For years, ITI has called for the adoption of policies that protect consumers by restraining blocking and throttling activities and safeguarding an open internet; maintain consumer transparency requirements; promote investment in faster, more robust broadband networks and universal internet access; and create an innovation-friendly environment for entrepreneurs. ITI issued comments in July 2017 supporting these principles.

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