At Meeting of Small Business Entrepreneurs, Welch Endorses Plan to Ensure Open and Unfettered Acess to Internet

Statement

Rep. Peter Welch convened a roundtable discussion of small business entrepreneurs this morning to discuss a new plan by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would ensure all businesses and all Americans have open and unfettered access to the internet.

Welch endorsed the FCC plan and solicited comments from roundtable participants on the issue, also known as "net neutrality." The open internet proposal follows a groundswell of public support for net neutrality last year when nearly 4 million Americans weighed in during the agency's public comment period.

"The internet has become indispensable to the free flow of ideas, commerce, education, and participatory democracy," said Welch. "It is essential that it remain open and available to all Americans and all businesses. Individuals, small businesses and non-profits throughout Vermont depend on the internet for their success. They should not have to compete for internet access with large corporations who are in a position to negotiate fast lanes of access."

The FCC is scheduled to vote on the proposal on February 26th .

Rep. Welch is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over issues affecting the internet.

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