DALLAS – The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) commends the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for voting today to overturn the Obama administration’s ill-conceived 2015 reclassification of broadband networks as telephone service until Title II.
“The Obama administration’s move was a step backwards in terms of technology and economics, and was simply done because the outdated Title II framework gave the federal government the power to impose heavy regulations,” said IPI president Tom Giovanetti. “It was an ideological and pragmatic move, rather than a principled decision based on either economic or technological evidence.”
After today’s vote, Internet regulation simply reverts to the incredibly successful framework that existed from the early 1990s through 2015—the period during which the Internet saw incredible innovation and expansion, said Giovanetti. “It strains credulity to assert that somehow today’s FCC move threatens the continued innovation, freedom and openness of the Internet,” he said.
“IPI looks forward to continuing to explain the merits of today’s decision to the public, and working toward public policy that ensures growth and innovation on our broadband networks,” he said.
The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) is an independent, nonpartisan public policy organization based in Dallas. IPI president Tom Giovanetti is available for interview by contacting Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139, or erin@ipi.org.
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