Lawless Raps Langevin’s Position Against Internet Equality

“Big corporations may want special privileges, but the rest of us deserve a level playing field,” says Lawless.

WARWICK, RI – Jennifer Lawless, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, announced today her support for internet freedom and legislation to protect network neutrality before Congress this week. She criticized the vote of her primary opponent, James Langevin, on the “Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act (COPE),” which would enable large telecommunications corporations to create a so-called “tiered internet” that would likely mean poorer internet service for many web users.

“We don’t let big corporations cut special deals for their mail service or for public telephone lines. Why should we let them relegate us to second-class internet service?” asked Lawless. “James Langevin’s siding with corporations instead of advocating for the interests of Rhode Island families makes this another issue on which he’s behind the curve and out of touch. We need leaders in Washington who are willing to fight for our values and principles, even and especially when special interests are on the other side.”

A key aspect of expanding access to the web, network neutrality is the principle that access to all internet sites should be equal for each user. A network neutrality law would prevent large phone and cable companies from offering preferential treatment on their networks to corporations and other wealthier web users, resulting in poorer-quality service for users not paying such a premium. The Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 (COPE), supported by Langevin, is the most extensive telecommunications legislation in a decade and passed the U.S. House of Representatives without a provision ensuring network neutrality.

Without a provision to ensure network neutrality, the COPE bill would allow large telecommunications firms such as Verizon and Comcast to cherry-pick customers in wealthy areas, while eliminating a requirement favored by many local governments that companies provide access to low-income and minority areas as well. Numerous organizations, including Common Cause, advocated strongly for Members of Congress to vote against the COPE bill, and ninety-six Democratic Representatives did vote against the measure.