Dear Friend,
As many of you may know, before becoming a Member of Congress, I had a long career in the technology sector and as an entrepreneur. I’ve seen firsthand how quickly technologies can develop and become critical components to our everyday lives.
Today, more and more people are constantly connected to the online world, between our mobile phones and smart watches, cars and home appliances. With an estimated 20 billion connected devices expected to be used by 2020, there is growing demand for online services that extend far beyond the uses we’ve come to rely on today – streaming entertainment, staying connected with family and friends and countless business applications. American innovation has harnessed the internet to make us a leader in all of these areas, but we won’t remain at the top if we adopt backward policies that hurt consumers.
This discussion takes on greater urgency, as just this month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to begin the process of dismantling the 2015 Open Internet Order – or net neutrality. I strongly oppose the FCC’s decision, because rescinding net neutrality means internet service providers will be able to block, throttle and prioritize certain content for a fee. I believe in a free and open internet; losing protection from these activities will be a loss for consumers as well as businesses. I will continue fighting in Congress to protect net neutrality and update our policies so they work in the world we work and live in today.
The FCC will be taking comments from the public from now until August. Please feel free to visit their website to share your thoughts.
As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on social media. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the VA, IRS or Social Security Administration, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.
Sincerely,
Suzan
