Today, the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve the FY 2016 Financial Service and General Government Appropriations bill that funds several government agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission. This bill includes several harmful riders that would limit the FCC’s ability to implement their recent open internet rules, and drastically reduces funding by $25 million less than last year.
The following can be attributed to Chris Lewis, VP of Government Affairs at Public Knowledge:
“This partisan effort to legislate FCC action through appropriations riders is a sledgehammer to the important work to ensure open access to broadband and communications networks. It is out of touch with the American people who spoke loudly in favor of a strong FCC and net neutrality rules. Republican leadership in the House can’t continue to have it both ways by saying they are for net neutrality but actively working to eliminate net neutrality rules.
“The Chairman of the Appropriations Committee made it clear that he wants to punish the FCC for its action on net neutrality and now his colleagues are making good on that threat. This bill goes further to disrupt sound FCC procedures and cut the agency’s funding generally. Cutting the FCC’s funding could hurt its ability to address other important, consensus communications concerns, including ensuring rural call completion, universal service to rural and low-income Americans and basic consumer protections.”
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.