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Imagine if your access to roads was based on the size of car you could afford…

Or if a phone company charged you more based on the content of your calls.

This is what the major internet carriers are asking the Federal Communications Commission, when they asked the FCC to reverse Net Neutrality regulations.

I am James Cargas, and I am running for the United States Congress in Congressional District 7.

If elected, I will protect Net Neutrality so individuals, small businesses, and even large companies can all have equal access to transmit data across the internet.

This FCC rule ensures Internet carriers cannot discriminate against any applications or content that rides across their network.

Equal access is now central to the survival of all organizations, including innovative startup companies.
Equal access is essential to seeing the news, videos and services you choose.

Equal access also means that rural areas, including rural schools, will not be disadvantaged.

The opponents of Net Neutrality claim it is unnecessary government regulation.

However, the facts prove otherwise.

Before Net Neutrality, internet carriers were repeatedly found to have secret caps on data, charge hidden fees that had no justification, and tried to de-standardize the internet by engineering preferences for their service over a competitor’s.

Donald Trump appointed a Verizon lawyer, Ajit Pai, as Chair of the FCC.

One of his first acts was to start the process of erasing the Net Neutralityrules to benefit companies like Verizon.

Here in Texas, Republican Congressman John Culberson appears unaware of what Net Neutrality even means.

Asked about this at his Town Hall, he responded that it was okay for carriers to charge more based on how much data users download.

Data usage is not part of the Net Neutrality rules!

Charging for different sized data plans has always been allowed.
We need a Representative on Capitol Hill who knows the issues.

The internet is now critical infrastructure, like natural gas pipelines and electricity wires.

The FCC should continue to regulate Internet Service Providers like other common carriers.

Here in the world’s Energy Capital, we understand very well that the TexasPublic Utility Commission, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must regulate pipelines and electric transmission wires as common carriers.

I used to work at the FERC where we ensured generators and producers had equal access to sell their gas or electricity,
including renewable energy,
to the people who wanted to buy it.

Pipelines and transmission lines owners cannot favor their affiliates, and Internet carriers shouldn’t either.

I am James Cargas.
If elected, I will protect equality on the internet.