JONES VOTES TO KEEP INTERNET FREE FROM INTERNATIONAL CONTROL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) voted for legislation to keep the Internet free from international government control.  The bill – H. Con. Res. 127 – is a bipartisan effort to send a clear message that the United States strongly opposes the efforts of the United Nations and other supranational institutions to take over the Internet. The timing of House action on H.Con.Res. 127 is important, as nations from around the world will meet at a United Nations forum later this year to discuss fundamental changes to regulation of the Internet.  The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

“It is important that we maintain the free flow of information on the Internet,” said Jones.  “International government control would limit freedom of information and access to knowledge and would be totally unacceptable.”

H. Con. Res. 127 expresses the sense of Congress that:

• The Internet must remain stable, secure, and free from government control;
• The structure of Internet governance has profound implications for competition and trade, democratization, free expression, and access to information;
• Countries have obligations to protect human rights, which are protected by online activity as well as offline activity;
• Proposals to fundamentally alter the governance and operation of the Internet would diminish freedom of expression on the Internet in favor of government control over content; and
• The position of the U.S. Government has been and is to advocate for the flow of information free from government control.