Despite any evidence of great consumer harm, the Obama administration continues to push for regulatory action that could change the future of the Internet as we know it. Immediately following the midterm elections, President Obama urged the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the Internet as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act.
For decades, the Internet has been an open and competitive free market without the interference of regulatory action from bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. A light regulatory touch has spurred innovation and the growth of the Internet. And it will continue to thrive without any new regulations from the FCC.
History tells us that using Title II will lead to court challenges, where the FCC and President Obama haven’t exactly fared very well in the past. The courts struck down the net neutrality rules enacted by the FCC in 2010 because the FCC had overstepped its authority.
However, in typical fashion, the Obama administration is proving once again that it will stop at nothing to restrict our Internet freedom. Despite already having their regulations rejected by a federal appeals court, President Obama and FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler have decided to press forward with their misguided effort to implement these overreaching rules.
Congress has clearly stated that it is the policy of the United States to preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet and other interactive computer services, unfettered by federal or state regulation.
The decision to regulate or reclassify the Internet is not one that should be made by five unelected bureaucrats. This is a decision that is best left up to Congress at the will of the American people.
Unfortunately, President Obama and his hand-picked FCC Commissioners continue to try and impose unpopular campaign promises by partisan fiat. Trying to regulate or reclassify the Internet has as much support as transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States. Both proposals are net losers that need to be retired once and for all.
It is imperative that we continue to protect our innovators from overreaching regulations. That is why I authored the Internet Freedom Act to block the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules and protect our innovators from these job-killing regulations. Before this administration takes any reckless steps that could jeopardize the explosive growth and innovation of the Internet, it is important the FCC be able to explain the potential costs and impact on jobs to the American people. That is why earlier this year I asked Chairman Wheeler to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before any rule goes into effect.
Using Title II will destroy innovation and is nothing more than a trojan horse for a government takeover of the Internet. The courts have already rejected the FCC’s attempts to do so. President Obama encouraging the FCC to go behind the courts will not result in an Internet that is free and open. Rather, it will destroy innovation and hand control over the placement of content to the government. The President’s pledge of rules preserving ‘openness’ sounds eerily similar to ‘If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.’
