John Schneider

Nobody Owns the Internet. Please Keep it That Way.

In the vast marketplace of ideas, the Internet is the great equalizer; the level playing field, where individuals and businesses can either thrive or fail based entirely on their own efforts and value to others of what they have to offer.

Reasonable people, which is the vast majority of us, understand and do not argue with the idea that companies who provide us access to the Internet are providing a truly valuable service for which they are certainly entitled to earn a profit.

But when large Internet service providers with deep pockets also seek to control the flow of lawful Internet traffic for their own benefit, favoring websites they are affiliated with and placing technical limitations on those with which they have no affiliation, a very serious line has been crossed.

For the sake of freedom, equality, innovation and our continued economic growth, the Internet must remain completely open and free to any and all who seek legitimate, lawful benefit from its existence.

The FCC must ensure that broadband providers do not block, interfere with or discriminate against any lawful Internet traffic based on its ownership, source or destination.