The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“It is truly unfortunate that the House Republican leadership has put itself in the position of trying to slow down the greatest economic engine for job creativity and innovation ever created. Under the neutral, non-discriminatory Internet, thousands and thousands of new businesses were created and millions of dollars were invested.
“As President Obama said on Sept. 21: ‘Today, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is announcing a set of principles to preserve an open internet in which all Americans can participate and benefit. I am pleased that he is taking this step. It is an important reminder that the role of government is to provide investment that spurs innovation and common-sense ground rules to ensure that there is a level playing field for all comers who seek to contribute their innovations.’
“The President has it exactly right. Investment in the Internet will flourish in the future, as it did in the past, once entrepreneurs of all sizes know that they will be able to reach consumers, while consumers will drive demand for Internet services by creating and using all sorts of new Internet-based features and services. Web service developers, telecommunications engineers, equipment manufacturers, artists, musicians and many others will contribute to the economic growth and job creation.
“Net Neutrality is simply a guarantee of fairness, a prohibition on discrimination. Telephone, cable and wireless companies will still manage their networks and will still invest as they wish. Putting the telephone, cable and wireless companies in control of the content, however, is a recipe for economic disaster.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.