Internet providers urge Montana's senators to push for net neutrality laws

[Len]

Jason Williams, the CEO of Blackfoot Telecommunications in Missoula, believes that U.S. laws that protect a free and open internet are outdated, confusing and subject to the whims of the Federal Communications Commission, an agency whose chairman is replaced every time a new president is elected.

Eric Fulton, the co-founder and CEO at Treasure State Internet, agrees. As the heads of companies that provide internet services to rural and urban Montanans alike, both want the federal government to find a bipartisan solution to net neutrality.

Net neutrality, according to Williams, means having a free and open internet, where companies can’t “throttle” or block their customers’ access to competitors, or give priority to an ally. On Tuesday, they joined educational technology entrepreneur Alli DePuy for a panel discussion on the topic and urged representatives for both of Montana’s U.S. Senators, Steve Daines and Jon Tester, to come up with a way to have predictability and stability for Internet Service Providers, or ISPs, in the future.

“We can all agree that it's time for Congress to step in and end the uncertainty around net neutrality," Williams said. "The current uncertainty not only creates uncertainty for ISPs and technology companies, but causes confusion for customers, and stifles investment and innovation. We support a bipartisan solution that makes permanent a free and open internet once and for all."

Williams and Fulton don’t believe the FCC should have all the power to change internet laws. Recently, the FCC’s new Republican chairman Ajit Pai has proposed repealing the strict net neutrality rules put in place by his Democratic predecessor Tom Wheeler.

“Politics aren’t my bag, but the arguments against net neutrality is it increases regulations on private businesses. But that argument is an outright farce because the existing oligarchy is just trying to prevent additional regulation that creates a more level playing field,” Fulton explained.

Fulton said many large companies are using loopholes to erode a free and open internet. For example, Google was fined $2.7 billion by European Union antitrust regulators for manipulating search results to favor its own advertisers this past June.

"As a company, we support modernizing regulations that will encourage companies to invest in broadband infrastructure in states like Montana," Fulton said. "From a personal standpoint, I also believe that net neutrality supports entrepreneurship and more competition in society, which ultimately benefits consumers."

DePuy, who co-owns an interactive distance learning company called Inspired Classroom in Missoula, said Congress should put the interests of the people in front of large corporations.

"Net neutrality has virtually ubiquitous support from the likes of consumers, students, service providers, and many prominent companies," DePuy said. "There must be a way to find common ground and establish permanent rules for an open internet that offers net neutrality protections."

The event was moderated by the Missoula Economic Partnership’s economic development director Jenni Graff, who said that technology is a huge part of Montana’s economy. The tech sector was responsible for $1 billion in revenue in Montana last year, and the majority of new growth in the industry was from firms with between one and six employees.

“The tech sector is booming in Montana, and fair and equal internet access is important to all of us,” Graff said.