Franken Supportive Of Net Neutrality Proposal
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Some state lawmakers want to level the playing field when it comes to accessing information online.
Sen. Al Franken wants people to support net neutrality, which prevents Internet service providers from allowing companies to buy faster website service or block competitors.
"It's just saying that all content on the Internet will be treated the same," Franken told a crowd at Magnet 360 in St. Louis Park Thursday.
Next week the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether the Internet should be reclassified as a telecommunications service rather than an information service. The change would give the FCC strong legal authority to ensure net neutrality, to make sure all Internet content moves at the same speed.
"We're competing with companies with giant resources, lots of other things," Wheniwork.com president Jeff Imm said.
Imm said net neutrality allows his clients to access his company's app without having to pay for faster Internet service.
"Everyone has the same ability to purchase the same amount of Internet bandwidth," Imm said.
Critics say net neutrality involves too much meddling by the government. Proponents say it would prevent big businesses from shutting out smaller start-ups or nonprofit sites.
"All of the amazing innovation and growth on the Internet didn't just happen while we've had net neutrality," Franken said. "It's happened because we have net neutrality."