Save the Internet Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. DELGADO. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I want to first thank my colleague, Chairman Doyle, for his leadership on this bill.

The Save the Internet Act restores critical net neutrality protections that the FCC repealed last year. This legislation is necessary to hold on firm legal ground the net neutrality principles we should all support: no blocking, no throttling, and no paid prioritization.

While ensuring a free and open internet is of the utmost importance, so, too, is ensuring broadband internet access for all. In fact, according to the FCC's 2018 Communications Marketplace Report, nearly one in four Americans lack access to broadband internet service at home.

As a proud Representative of one of the most rural congressional districts in the country, I cannot overstate what a huge problem this is. Individuals and small businesses in my district still lack access to stand-alone broadband internet because of high service costs, a lack of broadband infrastructure, and outdated and unreasonable bundling practices that require consumers to purchase a home telephone service or a cable package as a condition for purchasing broadband internet service.

In today's global economy, broadband shouldn't come with any strings attached. That is why my amendment would give GAO 1 year to report to Congress on the benefits to consumers of making broadband internet service available to everyone on a standalone basis.

Additionally, it would include recommendations to Congress on ways to increase the availability of stand-alone broadband internet service to consumers, particularly those living in rural areas.

Consumers increasingly don't want to buy big cable bundles. They just want access to the internet. That is why I urge support for this amendment and for the underlying bill.

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