WASHINGTON, DC—Today, President Barack Obama underscored his support for an open, and accessible Internet based in free expression and entrepreneurship by calling for the FCC to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service.

The following statement is attributed to Casey Rae, VP for Policy and Education at Music Coalition (FMC), a national non-profit research, education and advocacy organization for musicians:

“The president hit the nail on the head in supporting light-touch rules using the bedrock principle of ‘common carriage.’ This is part of a longstanding American tradition in communications policy that enables both free expression and economic growth.

“As creators, we understand the importance of free expression and the ability to enter the marketplace without discrimination by a few powerful corporations. We also benefit from the innovations inspired by an open Internet, where lawful content and services come together in a vibrant ecosystem of creativity and ingenuity. It is also clear that full net neutrality protections must exist wherever users connect to the Internet, whether wired or mobile.

“This isn’t a partisan issue. In fact, it’s probably the least partisan issue out there. At its core, net neutrality is about everyone’s ability to participate in a free market powered by creativity, innovation and connectivity. We applaud the president for standing up for what millions of Americans on both sides of the aisle are already demanding: real net neutrality that allows anyone—and not just those with the deepest pockets—to communicate, create and inspire. We only hope that the FCC gets the message and preserves real net neutrality under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.”

Rock the Net
https://futureofmusic.org/issues/campaigns/rock-net