WASHINGTON — Telecommunications provider Sprint told the Federal Communications Commission that it would support the agency's effort to reclassify Internet access under Title II of the Communications Act.

In a letter to the FCC, Sprint Chief Technology Officer Stephen Bye wrote, "Sprint does not believe that a light-touch application of Title II, including appropriate forbearance, would harm the continued investment in, and deployment of, mobile broadband services."

The Sprint letter is available at: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=60001013965

Over the past several weeks, top executives from phone and cable companies have admitted that Title II rules would not hurt their investment plans. The Sprint filing, however, marks the first time a major telecommunications company has directly endorsed FCC plans to reclassify.

Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood made the following statement:

"While members of Congress and cable industry lobbyists continue to spread misinformation about Title II, more and more providers are facing up to the fact that the restoration of this light-touch approach wouldn’t impact their investments or hamper their ability to compete.

"Despite the growing chorus of support for Title II, it appears that the staunchest Net Neutrality opponents in Congress remain dead set on killing off this successful framework.

"From early indications, the legislation under consideration by Republicans is a Trojan horse for the telcos. It would legalize harmful discriminatory practices and hamstring the FCC's efforts to protect consumers, promote competition and ensure universal access to critical communications services. Congress should listen to the people and carriers like Sprint instead of continuing to push legislation that would harm the open Internet."