CHICAGO – Following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) vote to eliminate Obama-era internet protections for consumers, state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is calling on Congress to stand up to President Donald Trump and the FCC and overrule the decision.

“Once again, big businesses in America gained a victory at the expense of middle-class families,” Andrade said. “This is exactly the type of crony capitalism Republican politicians talk about preventing in the first place, but then appoint their allies, like Ajit Pai, to high-profile positions to create new rules only they benefit from. People deserve better than this, and I’m demanding that Congress do the right thing and put people before business interests.”

As chair of the House Cybersecurity Committee, Andrade understands policies that will benefit Illinois consumers from being unfairly targeted or preyed on by the country’s internet service providers that work tirelessly to influence elected officials to eliminate safeguards that keep internet access fair and open to everyday people.

Providers like Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner and Verizon adamantly oppose internet protections that prevent them from using the internet as a vehicle to increase their profit margins and restrict access to consumers. Andrade believes that in order to keep the internet a neutral area for consumers and companies, the rules that were established under President Barack Obama’s tenure should have been maintained.

“When Trump and Pai use government to advance their corporatist agenda, it is a deliberate assault on consumers who rely on the internet services that we use to make our lives easier,” Andrade said. “Average taxpayers should not have to shoulder the burdens of the reckless actions Donald Trump takes just so he can protect the businesses he likes at our expense.”