FCC’s plan to make your Internet a ‘public utility’ will only make it worse
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Federal Communications Commission revived its proposal to reclassify Internet providers as public utilities under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, commonly known as “net neutrality.” The FCC vote will take place on April 25.
This marks a step back for all American Internet users, who have thus far profited from a more innovative Internet marketplace since the repeal of these rules in 2017 by former chair Ajit Pai.
Yaël Ossowski, deputy director of the Consumer Choice Center, reacts:
“Resurrecting the idea of Title-II regulation of Internet Service Providers, after its successful repeal in 2017, is the idea that nobody needs, certaintly not in 2024. Since then, we’ve seen incredible innovation and investment, as more Internet customers begin using mobile hotspots and satellite Internet, getting more Americans online than ever before. No one is asking for this proposal and no one needs it.
“Regulating ISPs like water utilities or electricity providers is a path toward more government control and oversight of the Internet, plain and simple, and will only make things worse,” said Ossowski.
“As we’ve seen with the recent court cases before the Supreme Court, today’s major Internet problem isn’t broadband providers blocking certain access or services, but government agencies attempting to strong-arm and jawbone Internet providers and platforms into censoring or removing content they don’t agree with. This is more concerning than any worst-case scenario dreamed up by FCC commissioners.
“Bringing these dead regulations back to life to enforce Depression-era rules on the web will be a losing issue for millions of Americans who enjoy greater Internet access and services than ever before.
“Rather than support Americans’ access to the Internet, it stands to threaten the vast entrepreneurial and tech spaces across our country and will push companies to set up in jurisdictions that promise true Internet freedom rather than state-imposed regulation of content and delivery of Internet services.
“We implore the FCC to whole an open and honest public engagement process on these proposed net neutrality regulations, and we are certain consumers will have their say against this proposal,” added Ossowski.
The CCC represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva, Lima, Brasilia, and other hotspots of regulation and inform and activate consumers to fight for #ConsumerChoice. Learn more at consumerchoicecenter.org.
