DALLAS - The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) president Tom Giovanetti released the following statement commending Chairman Ajit Pai and the Federal Communications Commission for its draft order and intention to repeal the ill-advised 2015 Title II reclassification and accompanying regulation of broadband networks.
“The FCC’s original decision in 2002 to classify the Internet as an information service rather than a telecommunications service was the right decision, as history demonstrates. Now we can return to the light touch regulatory policies that have applied to the Internet since its infancy, and learn from the 2015 Title II reclassification as a mistake and a case of regulatory overreach.
The Title II reclassification, with its harmful rules and regulatory uncertainty, predictably slowed investment in new broadband infrastructure.
Had I advocated an Internet policy that was shown to cause reduced investment in broadband infrastructure, despite a growing economy, I would have taken that as empirical evidence that I was wrong. It’s not as if demand for broadband products and services has declined for some reason.
But of course, the 2015 move had nothing to do with sound economics or real consumer protection, since the FCC didn’t bother to provide an economic justification or evidence of consumer harm. Rather, the move was political in nature, designed to encourage left-leaning political activists after a particularly discouraging election.
If for some reason there is consensus to radically alter U.S. broadband policy, it should be done through Congress and the legislative process, not through a politically motivated power grab at the urging of a beleaguered president. We’re thankful that this mistake is soon to be overturned.”
The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) is an independent, nonprofit public policy organization based in Dallas. Experts are available for interview by contacting Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139, or erin@IPI.org.