NEBRASKA CITY - In his December Fort Report column, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry said the US Congress may need to intervene on behalf of what has become known as net neutrality.
Net neutrality is a term linked to a conflict between large telecommunications companies that provide access to Internet and media providers, such as Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google.
Fortenberry said telecom companies complain that media providers, called FANG companies, have made their profits off the back of the telecom’s massive infrastructure investment.
Fortenberry: “In the eyes of telecoms, the FANGs have bought a low-priced ticket in steerage, but are getting first-class transportation of their content.”
Net neutrality supporters say, if lines separating companies that provide Internet access and companies that provide content are crossed, it will result in monopolies that will allow Internet price strategies that put smaller, innovative companies at a disadvantage.
Others are concerned that popular websites will be priced too high for poorer households.
Fortenberry said he recently urged the Federal Communications Commission to preserve the framework of net neutrality.
However, the FCC overturned the 1934 Communications Act, which gave net neutrality its foundation.
Fortenberry said the country needs assurance that innovation and competition in the digital age is maintained, access to content is preserved and consumer privacy rights are protected.
He said, if players in the net neutrality debate do not cooperate to achieve these principles, Congress should intervene.
The Fort Report
Fortenberry Writes In Support of Net Neutrality
