Bono Mack Seeks Public Support in Opposition of Network Neutrality

WASHINGTON, January 25, 2011 – Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) established an online petition via tweet and press release Monday in opposition of the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order.

The Order provides three guidelines by which internet service providers (ISPs) must abide in their offerings to consumers.  First, ISPs must provide services in a transparent manner by disclosing their network management practices and performance characteristics.  Second, network providers must not block lawful content from their customers, and third, providers may not unreasonably discriminate by prioritizing certain network traffic without sufficient reason.

Bono Mack’s petition, which calls the Open Internet Order a “naked power grab,” reads in part:

“It is clear that government overreach and intrusion is threatening the vitality of our free markets, the future of innovation and technology, and the freedom of individuals and private enterprise.  It is clear that government overreach and intrusion is threatening the vitality of our free markets, the future of innovation and technology, and the freedom of individuals and private enterprise.”

Bono Mack, who sits on the subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, also encouraged her Twitter followers and major internet service provider, Verizon, to support the petition.  Verizon filed an appeal challenging the FCC’s Order last week in the D.C. Circuit court.