Honorable Members,

I would like to pass along my view on Open Internet. 

I own a small computer business in the southern Appalachian mountains. Allowing large ISP's to throttle traffic puts my business and the businesses of my customers at risk. I believe true Net Neutrality is in the best interest of everyone. 

Reclassifying broadband as Information from Telecommunications is a mistake. Many small businesses, myself included, make use of a variety of services on the Internet. These include; email, cloud storage, video conferencing, web hosting, document sharing, online training and others. I assist many customers with selecting services. Being able to compare apples to apples means a great deal to business owners.   

Rural America struggles with access to the Internet. The majority of the area where I live and work has yet to meet the definition of broadband. In larger metropolitan areas, there are a number of methods to connect to the Internet. In rural America, the choices are severely limited. Many areas, like my home and office, do not have access to cellular networks. 

I understand that more and more people live in metropolitan areas. That said, we must have structures, policies and regulations that create a level playing field. 

Sincerely,
Mark Gramlich