Sonic won’t cash in like Comcast, AT&T (Video)

Not all companies will be taking advantage of the end of net neutrality to make more money. 

Sonic, an independent internet service provider in California, is promising that it won’t be charging any extra fees for faster speeds. Many net neutrality advocates believe fees for fast lanes and censorship will become the new norm after the FCC voted to dismantle the Obama-era regulations intended to keep the internet fair and open. 

Tara Sharp, the CMO of Sonic, spoke to Salon’s Alyona Minkovski for “Salon Now” and said that they won’t be cashing in like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon, who have been lobbying to end net neutrality rules for years. “While we recognize that that is a great financial opportunity for them, we recognize that the opportunity of upholding an open and free internet is something that’s really valuable to a lot of people,” Sharp said.

According to Sharp, Sonic has already received hundreds of calls from customers saying they will switch to Sonic because of its stance on the issue. 

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has argued that net neutrality rules were burdensome regulations, and that getting rid of them will spur innovation. Sharp strongly disagreed, saying, “What we’re really doing is crushing America’s entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re really making a sacrifice to small businesses.”