Small Businesses File Open Letter To FCC And Congress Challenging Proposed Open Internet Order Changes

The i2Coalition would like to applaud small businesses from across the country in their filing an open letter on behalf of the Open Internet Order with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The letter, below, addresses small organizations and businesses concerns over Ajit Pai and the FCC’s proposed changes to 2015’s Open Internet Order protections. Specifically, how the practices of blocking, throttling, and charging extra fees will be detrimental to the formation and continued success of small businesses. Signees worry that while large companies are able to afford and accept these stipulations, small firms will not.

The American Sustainable Business Council has served to steward the letter and distribute it. The letter’s signatories hail from a wide gamut of industries, including i2Coalition members. Also among the names are trade associations such as the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance, and Small Business Majority. While the final deadline for public input on the FCC’s proposed changes to the Open Internet Order was August 30th, 2017 if your organization would like to sign the letter, the names will be continually added through a rolling process.

“Small businesses make up most of the growth, innovation, and hard work in our economy and on the internet. A loss of Net Neutrality would cause harm to the largest segment of our economy. Allowing providers to play favorites on an already proven and open network contradicts the social contract of the American Constitution.” i2Coalition Member S. Eric Ellis, Vice President of Customer Experience, cPanel.

Over 500 small businesses have spoken out for net neutrality.

If you are a small business owner, sign the letter and make sure your voice is heard in this fight.