Collins, Pingree, King rip plan to end net neutrality

Andrew Harnik | AP | BDN Andrew Harnik | AP | BDN

Three members of Maine’s four-person congressional delegation said they vehemently oppose changes to net neutrality rules under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said in separate statements that the rules would be disastrous for consumers and should be reconsidered. U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine’s 2nd District did not respond to questions from the Bangor Daily News but has voted against the concept of net neutrality in the past.

Net neutrality as a concept, which was codified under former President Barack Obama’s administration, aims to ensure equal access to the internet for consumers. Opponents of changing those rules say eroding net neutrality protections would allow internet service providers to block certain content or charge more for various types of internet use.

The FCC announced Tuesday its plan to dismantle net neutrality regulations and said commissioners plan to vote on the issue on or after Dec. 14. Congress is not involved in the FCC’s vote but could intervene with legislation if it chooses.

In a written statement, King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, called abolishing net neutrality “a monumentally bad decision for the country.”

“[The internet is] a vital part of 21st century life and a critical driver of a modern economy,” King said. “The proposed repeal of net neutrality threatens those advancements by putting speed and availability of information for sale to the highest bidder.”

Annie Clark, a spokeswoman for Collins, said the Republican senator also does not support the commission’s proposal because “internet providers must not manage their system in an anti-competitive way that limits consumers’ choices.” Clark said any changes also must not discourage the spread of broadband internet in rural areas.

A major argument against net neutrality is that it stifles investments in the infrastructure needed to deliver reliable high-speed internet service to remote rural areas. Maine’s business and political leaders have often cited the lack of rural broadband service as a drag on the state’s economy.

Pingree, a Democrat, called the proposal “plain wrong” and said it could create “fast and slow lanes based on who can afford it.” In Twitter posts this week, she blamed Republican President Donald Trump’s administration for showing through the proposal that it “stands on the side of profits over people.”

In March, Poliquin, a Republican, voted in favor of ending a measure opposing the Obama-era policy.

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