Kerry: FCC has made ‘progress’ on net neutrality

“The debate over the last year on the open Internet and the role of government in preserving it has effectively narrowed the scope of disagreement,” Kerry said. “Now all responsible parties recognize that wireline and wireless broadband service do, will, and should fall within the scope of the FCC. All now agree that network owners should not pick losers and winners at the edge of the network or act as a bottleneck to innovation or gatekeeper to consumers. That’s progress.”

Kerry said he is working on a legislative solution on net neutrality, but added that the FCC has the authority to move on its own “with or without a new law.” 

He encouraged concerned parties to “stay at it,” as he put it.

“Rather than retreat to our predictable corners, this should be a time when everyone takes a deep breath and continues to engage in a constructive process,” he said.