WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi today expressed her strong concerns about a proposal to roll back net neutrality rules that protect basic fairness on the internet and the impact it will have on rural communities.

In a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, Heitkamp requested a briefing on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order, a proposal under consideration by the FCC to allow internet service providers to block, throttle, or prioritize certain content, which could hurt consumers and small businesses in rural America.

“Strong net neutrality rules protect consumers – especially in rural areas – and I’m very concerned about the FCC’s plan to repeal protections that ensure basic fairness on the internet,” Heitkamp said. “North Dakotans and small businesses lose out if their internet provider is allowed to infringe upon these basic principles – particularly if there is only one internet provider in a given area. I’ve heard from many North Dakota startup companies worried that repeal of net neutrality could lead them to pay higher costs to do business on the internet, and I share their concerns. Repealing net neutrality could leave North Dakota’s rural communities more vulnerable, and the FCC needs to fully explain the impact of these changes.” 

Click here to read the letter.

As a founding member of the U.S. Senate Broadband Caucus, Heitkamp has been pushing for bipartisan solutions that will connect every North Dakota family, business, and school to high-speed internet. Last year, she brought FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to North Dakota to see firsthand how rural areas are impacted by lack of access to high-speed internet, and she has discussed the issue in multiple meetings with the president.

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