May 24th, 2010
Strong bipartisan opposition to FCC’s attempt to regulate the Internet
Posted in
Technology
Author: Tom Giovanetti
|| Location: Lewisville, Texas, USA
Those who think that the FCC's aggressive attempt to begin regulating the Internet is a partisan issue should take careful note of
a letter released today in which 73 elected Democratic Members of Congress oppose the FCC's actions.
As the letter notes,
We are writing to reinforce the strong bipartisan consensus among policymakers, industry participants, and analysts that the success of the broadband marketplace stems from policies that encourage competition, private investment, and legal certainty. The regulatory framework first adopted in 1998 by the Clinton administration's FCC has resulted in broadband industry infrastructure investment of approximately $60 billion per year. [italics mine]
Importantly, the letter states (and don't forget it's from 73 Members of Congress):
The significant regulatory impact of reclassifying broadband service is not something that should be taken lightly and should not be done without additional direction from Congress. [italics mine]
Now,
here is a letter also released today from Senate Republicans.
See? Bipartisan.
The narrative that is emerging here is pretty clear: This is a radical-leaning administration that doesn't even reflect its own Congressional majority, much less the American people. In seeking to expand its regulatory control over the Internet, the FCC is responding to the demands of a small handful of far-Left advocacy organizations, rather than to the demands of the American people or even the demands of Congress.
This is Regulators-Gone-Wild, and it's precisely the danger of giving authority to unelected bureaucrats. They always seek greater and greater power over the economy, and it's why Chairman Genchowski's promises to forebear to fully exercise the powers that would accrue to the FCC under Title II should be completely discounted. Whatever power you give them, they will use all of it, and seek even more.
Author: Tom Giovanetti || Location: Lewisville, Texas, USA