ADAM SMITH 
9TH DISTRICT, WASHINGTON 
2264 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 
(202) 225-8901 
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES 
RANKING MEMBER 
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The Honorable Ajit V. Pai 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Pai: 
December 13, 2017 
DISTRICT OFFICE 
15 SOUTH GRADY WAY, SUITE 101 
RENTON, WA 98057 
(425) 793-5180 
TOLL FREE 1-888-SMITH09 
http://adamsmith.house.gov 
http://twitter.com/Rep_Adam_Smith 
https://www.facebook.com/RepAdamSmith 
I am writing on behalf of the constituents of the Ninth Congressional District of Washington who 
are gravely concerned about the plan to eliminate net neutrality and to convey the vehement 
opposition to it that they have shared with me. I urge you and the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) to reject these harmful changes to internet governance and instead preserve 
strong and enforceable protections for a free and open internet. 
I am also strongly opposed to the "Restoring Internet Freedom" order, which is currently 
pending before the FCC, and am very worried that it will jeopardize unfettered access to the 
internet. This rule would effectively end net neutrality and fundamentally alter the manner in 
which internet service is governed by reversing the classification of broadband internet as a 
telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act. 
Title II has provided the only authority available in law to effectively preserve an open internet 
that has been upheld by the courts. Since the reclassification of internet service in 2015, Title II 
regulation has served to ban blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, and has enhanced 
transparency rules. Additionally, the current regulatory approach has helped to protect consumer 
privacy, disability accessibility, consumer complaint and enforcement processes, and fair access, 
while barring unjust and unreasonable practices as well as discrimination. 
The Restoring Internet Freedom order ends crucial net neutrality and consumer protections and 
abandons the FCC' s duty to protect the public interest in communications matters. Among the 
many concerning aspects of this plan and its potential impacts, it would eliminate the general 
conduct standard that stops internet service providers from harming consumers or edge providers 
while lifting the ban on blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, which are at the heart of net 
neutrality principles. In its place, the FCC rule would merely require public disclosure about 
violations of net neutrality and count on after-the-fact enforcement by the Federal Trade 
Commission to protect consumers, even though that agency's jurisdiction and expertise is 
extremely limited in the telecommunications space. Finally, the Restoring Internet Freedom 
order prevent states and localities from enacting laws that attempt to protect consumers and the 
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December 13, 2017 
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internet by filling the void left by the FCC's withdraw of responsibility to protect and maintain a 
free and open internet. 
The internet has become an indispensable tool - one that millions of people and businesses rely 
on being open and accessible for a wide array of purposes. This proposal puts the historic 
strengths of the internet and future of the web at serious risk. It opens the door to new barriers to 
accessing and sharing information, perspectives, and content. The order shifts power over the 
internet to a relatively small number oflarge companies that will be empowered to handle 
internet traffic based on their own commercial interests. This rule risks undercutting innovation 
and hampering the myriad of businesses that rely on the internet to grow and reach their 
customers. It threatens free speech and democracy by allowing limitations on the dissemination 
of and access to a full range of information and views. The plan makes increased costs to 
consumers likely and favors the wealthy and powerful. It also undermines equity of access to 
internet service that will disproportionally harm those who are economically disadvantaged. 
On behalf of the many thousands of concerned constituents of the Ninth Congressional District 
of Washington, I respect urge your rejection ofthis misguided plan to end net neutrality and 
for the Commi ·on to ot v te for the proposed Restoring Internet Freedom order. 
Sincerely, 
Adam Smith 
Member of Congress