Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20554

July 7, 2014

To Chairman Wheeler and Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai and O’Rielly:

I represent TRAIL (Technology Resources and Internet Literacy) in presenting this comment to the Commission regarding the recent rules that have been put forward concerning the Open Internet.

While many of the major players in the technology space as well as other startups have submitted comments on the necessity of preserving an Open Internet, our company is unique in that we represent a user group no one else does: people who do not even know how to use the Internet. As this is a group whose voice is unheard in the policy arena, we feel it is important to share concerns over rules that could potentially jeopardize their access to the Internet. We fear they may not have the chance to enjoy the Open Internet that so many of us have had the opportunity to build our businesses and livelihoods upon.

TRAIL is an online education company dedicated to bringing people their first experience with the Internet. We partner with libraries, schools, social services offices, workforce development centers and other trusted public institutions to offer our lessons and features online for free. TRAIL’s platforms, JobScout and HealthScout, allow thousands of learners to become Internet savvy. With users in over 12 countries, TRAIL is on its way to becoming the “first stop” on the Internet.

Our vision is to make sure our online learning tools get into the hands of the people who need them most, the over 60 million people in the United States who do not know how to use the Internet. Moving forward, our goal is to do the same for the over 5 billion people who face this issue worldwide.

At a time when we need a national focus on ending the remaining digital divide so that the Internet can provide an economic boost to all Americans, taking any action that would jeopardize the closure of this gap is strongly discouraged. Any rules that may allow for “pay for play” access to the Internet would be both discriminatory and anti-progress.

The return of American ingenuity and the American spirit in the 21st Century will be directly connected to whether people are able to effectively access information and online tools to do the most simple and necessary of tasks, like search for employment.

 Neither the Commission, nor the technology community, should rest until all Americans have the ability to utilize the essential tools that are available on the Internet.

When there are still so many Americans who are not online, we cannot afford to do anything but preserve an Open Internet. Sincerely, Christina Gagnier Chief Executive Officer TRAIL