Fight for Net Neutrality resumes in opening days of the 110th Congress with Dorgan-Snowe Internet Freedom Preservation Act

WASHINGTON -Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2007 today, reopening the debate in Congress over “net neutrality,” the fundamental principle that prevents Internet service providers from discriminating online. The move comes less than two weeks after AT&T’s concession to net neutrality conditions in its planned merger with BellSouth.

Pledging strong support for the bill, Common Cause President Chellie Pingree issued the following statement:

“The Internet has revolutionized citizen engagement in their democracy,” Pingree said. “Millions of Americans go online to get political news, to engage with candidates’ campaigns, and to communicate with their elected leaders. This revolution was able to happen because of net neutrality, one of the Internet’s longest standing principles. Net neutrality ensures that our Internet will remain open, free and competitive – and must be preserved.

Common Cause applauds Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for championing this issue, and for today introducing the Internet Freedom Preservation Act. Last year, more than one million Americans of every political stripe came together to call on Congress to pass net neutrality legislation. We hope that in 2007, Congress will listen and act.”