{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-librarians-and-educators-warn-of-negative-impacts-for-ri-if-trump-admin-repeals-net-neutrality", "Reed, Librarians & Educators Warn of Negative Impacts for RI if Trump Admin Repeals Net Neutrality", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12/08/2017\u00a0\u2014\u00a0PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 With the Trump Administration gearing up to repeal net neutrality next week, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is urging the Administration to keep the Internet open, free, and with equal access for all.\u00a0 Today, Senator Reed held an event at the Providence Public Library with librarians and leading educators to discuss how repealing net neutrality could negatively impact consumers, businesses, and democracy and put people who can\u2019t pay for preferential treatment online at a disadvantage.\u00a0\r\nA critical Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote on whether or not to overturn net neutrality rules is expected to occur at the commission\u2019s regularly-scheduled monthly meeting next Thursday, December 14. \u00a0Earlier this week, Reed and 27 Senate colleagues wrote a letter to the FCC urging the commission to delay the vote until an investigation is completed into reports that bots impersonating Americans filed hundreds of thousands of phony comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policy making process, thus distorting the public record.\r\nReed noted at today\u2019s event that the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to repeal net neutrality would undo protections requiring all Internet traffic to be treated equally by Internet service providers.\u00a0 He also noted that the Administration\u2019s plan will undermine the principles of a free and open Internet and be an unprecedented giveaway to big broadband providers, benefitting a few telecommunications giants at the expense of their customers who use the Internet every day.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cThis is an issue that affects everyone,\u201d said Senator Reed.\u00a0 \u201cNet neutrality levels the playing field by allowing everyone to have equal access to the Internet and making sure that service providers treat everyone fairly and equally. \u00a0It prevents Internet giants from placing tolls on the information superhighway.\u00a0 The Trump Administration\u2019s plans to end net neutrality would be a devastating mistake that would likely have harmful consequences for consumers and businesses and could lead to a loss of jobs and small businesses across the nation and here in Rhode Island.\u00a0 I urge the Administration to keep existing net neutrality rules in place and I pledge to work on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues to pass laws that recognize net neutrality and preserve equal Internet access for all.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe repeal of net neutrality does not promote competition.\u00a0 It allows telecommunications conglomerates to filter and funnel Internet access for profit,\u201d said Dr. Paolo Prado, Associate Professor of Communication at Roger Williams University. \u00a0\u201cThis action by the FCC would be disingenuous and an affront to the first amendment. The 21st century press distributes online, and any federal regulation or deregulation that limits access to the press does so in defiance of our first amendment rights.\u201d\r\n\u201cI can\u2019t think of a better place than a public library to have a conversation like this,\u201d said Providence Public Library Executive Director Jack Martin. \u00a0\u201cHere at the Providence Public Library, we have students, families, children, and senior citizens camped outside on our doorstep with their laptops and their phones in the air, trying to get a signal. \u00a0Taking away net neutrality is like taking away our freedom to read.\u201d\r\nThe American Library Association has voiced its strong opposition to the proposed order on net neutrality and the negative impact it will have on those who use the Internet, stating: \u201cLibraries, our patrons and America\u2019s communities will be at risk if the FCC repeals all protections contained in its 2015 Open Internet Order with no plans to replace with any enforceable rules. We strenuously disagree with the FCC\u2019s actions and will continue to advocate for essential net neutrality protections.\u201d\r\nToday\u2019s event was streamed live on Senator Reed\u2019s Facebook page and can be viewed here.\u00a0\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-librarians-and-educators-warn-of-negative-impacts-for-ri-if-trump-admin-repeals-net-neutrality"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.701339915394783, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}