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Key Takeaway
Blackburn led the fight to dismantle net neutrality protections, sponsoring legislation that would have permanently banned the FCC from enforcing open internet rules — disproportionately affecting rural Tennessee.
How Losing Net Neutrality Hits Appalachian Broadband Users
Net neutrality sounds like an abstract policy debate, but its consequences are concrete for the 250,000+ residents of Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District. Without net neutrality rules, internet service providers are legally permitted to create tiered service levels — charging more for access to certain websites, throttling streaming services to push customers toward the ISP’s own offerings, or slowing down traffic from competing platforms.
In urban areas with multiple ISP options, market competition provides some check on these practices. But in much of East Tennessee, households have one — or at most two — broadband options. If that single provider decides to throttle Netflix, charge extra for video calling, or slow down a small business’s website because they haven’t paid for a “fast lane,” consumers have nowhere else to go. That is the market reality Blackburn’s anti-net-neutrality agenda protects.
AT&T and Comcast: The Donors Behind the Net Neutrality Fight
Blackburn has received significant campaign contributions from the telecommunications industry throughout her career. According to OpenSecrets, telecom companies and their PACs have been among her top industry donors. Her Open Internet Preservation Act was praised by major ISPs while being opposed by virtually every consumer advocacy organization, small business group, and internet freedom coalition that weighed in. The bill’s provision preempting state-level net neutrality laws was particularly controversial, as it would have prevented Tennessee from enacting its own consumer protections even if the state legislature chose to do so.
Tennessee’s governor has limited direct authority over federal telecom policy, but the governor does influence state broadband strategy, digital equity programs, and any future state-level privacy or net neutrality legislation. Blackburn’s track record suggests she would side with large ISPs over consumers and rural communities on these issues — a relevant consideration for voters in East Tennessee who depend on affordable, unrestricted internet access for work, education, telehealth, and daily life.
Blackburn Authored Legislation to Weaken Net Neutrality and Block State-Level Protections
Marsha Blackburn was one of the most vocal opponents of net neutrality in Congress. She authored the Open Internet Preservation Act (H.R.4682), which was marketed as protecting the open internet but actually preempted state-level net neutrality rules while offering only weak federal protections in return. In 2024, she sponsored a Congressional Review Act resolution to block the FCC’s restored net neutrality order entirely.
What Open Internet Rules Mean for Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol
Net neutrality is the principle that ISPs must treat all internet traffic equally—not slowing down or charging more for certain websites, streaming services, or apps. For residents of Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District, where broadband options are limited and many communities are served by a single provider, net neutrality protections are particularly important. Without them, ISPs can create “fast lanes” for companies that pay more, effectively putting small businesses, rural healthcare providers, and local content creators at a disadvantage.
The Cost to Tri-Cities Small Businesses and Rural Telehealth
In a region where telehealth adoption has been critical for bridging healthcare gaps, the absence of net neutrality protections means ISPs could theoretically prioritize traffic from larger healthcare networks over smaller rural clinics. For small business owners in Kingsport, Johnson City, or Elizabethton trying to compete online, losing net neutrality means they could face higher costs to reach customers if ISPs charge for preferred treatment.
Telecom Donations to Blackburn Campaigns
Blackburn’s opposition to net neutrality aligned with the interests of large ISPs who stood to profit from tiered internet services. Her consistent support for the telecom industry’s preferred policies—while representing a district where many constituents have no meaningful choice in internet providers—raises fundamental questions about whose interests she prioritizes.
How the Bill Blocked Tennessee From Writing Its Own Rules
Perhaps most concerning was Blackburn’s push to preempt state-level net neutrality laws. Several states moved to enact their own protections after federal rules were rolled back, but Blackburn’s legislation would have prevented Tennessee from creating its own consumer protections. This “have it both ways” approach—eliminating federal protections while blocking states from filling the gap—left consumers with no recourse at any level of government.
Internet Throttling Risks for East Tennessee Schools and Startups
Net neutrality — the principle that internet service providers must treat all online content equally — has particularly significant implications for small businesses and educational institutions in rural Tennessee. Without net neutrality, ISPs can create “fast lanes” for companies that pay more and “slow lanes” for those that cannot afford premium access. This creates a two-tiered internet where large corporations have an inherent advantage over small businesses trying to compete online.
For East Tennessee entrepreneurs operating businesses from Johnson City, Kingsport, or the region’s smaller communities, net neutrality ensures their websites and online services load just as quickly as those of major national competitors. Blackburn’s active opposition to net neutrality protections — she introduced legislation specifically designed to prevent the FCC from enforcing open internet rules — threatened this level playing field.
Educational institutions, including East Tennessee State University and the region’s community colleges, depend on equal internet access for online learning platforms, research databases, and student services. Without net neutrality, ISPs could potentially charge higher rates for access to educational content or prioritize entertainment streaming over academic resources.
Blackburn Fundraising History With Internet Providers
Throughout her career in Congress, Blackburn has been one of the top recipients of campaign contributions from the telecommunications industry. These financial relationships have drawn scrutiny from transparency advocates who question whether her opposition to net neutrality reflects the interests of her constituents or the companies that fund her campaigns. Public polling has consistently shown that net neutrality enjoys broad bipartisan support among voters, including in conservative-leaning districts.
What the Next Governor Can Do About Broadband Access
While net neutrality is primarily a federal issue, the governor of Tennessee influences internet policy through broadband infrastructure investments, state contracts with ISPs, and advocacy at the federal level. Several governors across the country have signed executive orders requiring state contractors to follow net neutrality principles. Blackburn’s strong opposition to net neutrality suggests she would not pursue similar measures in Tennessee.
As Tennessee continues to invest in broadband expansion through both state and federal funding, the terms and conditions attached to that funding — including whether providers must follow open internet principles — will shape how the internet works for Tennesseans for years to come. The governor has significant influence over these decisions.
Related: See also how Blackburn voted to let ISPs sell your data and the broadband infrastructure she opposed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blackburn’s position on net neutrality?
Blackburn has been one of the most vocal opponents of net neutrality in Congress. She authored the Open Internet Preservation Act and in 2024 sponsored a resolution to block restored net neutrality protections.
How does opposing net neutrality hurt rural Tennessee?
Without net neutrality, ISPs can throttle speeds and create paid fast lanes. Rural areas with limited ISP competition are most vulnerable because consumers have no alternative.
Did Blackburn’s net neutrality bill protect the open internet?
Critics argued her bill was designed to preempt stronger state-level protections while offering only minimal federal safeguards, and would have banned states from passing their own net neutrality rules.
Sources
- H.R.4682 – Open Internet Preservation Act (Congress.gov)
- FCC: Restoring Internet Freedom Overview
- NCSL: Net Neutrality State Legislation Tracker
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