Arizona representatives weigh in on FCC’s net neutrality ruling

PHOENIX — Following the Federal Communications Commission’s vote on net neutrality, Arizona congressmen both praised and rejected the outcome of the net neutrality vote Thursday.

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said he was in favor of the vote.

“Under Chairman Ajit Pai’s leadership, the FCC has rightly stopped federal regulators from controlling our internet, Biggs said in a release. “The Obama administration’s net neutrality rule was one of the many examples of executive overregulation.”

Due to this interference, all internet consumers would see price increases, and the success of smaller Internet Service Providers would be stifled. Now, internet freedom has been restored.”

A supporter of the ruling, Biggs also received $19,500 from the telecom industry — and he wasn’t the only one.

Fellow Republicans Paul Gosar and Martha McSally also received contributions, with Gosar receiving $12,250 and McSally with $84,936.

And while some felt the move was necessary, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) saw the decision as anything but favorable.

“I am incredibly disappointed by the FCC’s irresponsible and partisan decision to repeal net neutrality rules,” he said in a statement.

“In moving forward with this decision, Chairman Ajit Pai and the two other Republican appointees who voted to repeal the Open Internet Order ignored the widespread outcry against his plan from millions of people, lawmakers and public interest groups.

I am committed to fighting for net neutrality to ensure competition, protect consumers and preserve a free, open market.”

While Biggs and Gallego provided formal statements regarding the decision, other members of Congress took to Twitter.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) was one of the first to post.

The FCC is planning to destroy #NetNeutrality this afternoon. Large corporations should never be the gatekeepers of information on the internet. Ending net neutrality would end internet freedom.

— Rep. Raúl Grijalva (@standwithraul) December 14, 2017

Following the vote, he had this to say to the FCC chairman.

Congrats @AjitPaiFCC, you just gave away the keys to our open and free internet. Yet another instance of the GOP prioritizing corporate profits over all else. #NetNeutrality

— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) December 14, 2017

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., also went on the social media platform stating that: “Congress should take action to correct this bad decision. Consumers should get to keep access to the legal content they want at a fair market-based price without interference.”

The FCC’s new rules could mean big changes in how Americans use the internet. The agency got rid of rules that barred companies such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon from playing favorites with internet apps and sites.

The broadband industry promises the internet experience isn’t going to change. But protests have erupted online and in the streets as everyday Americans worry that cable and phone companies will be able to control what they see and do online.

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