FreedomWorks, Coalition of 23 Other Groups Demand Congress Support FCC’s Restoring Internet Freedom Order
FreedomWorks is proud to have co-authored and signed a coalition letter uniting 24 leading conservative, free market, and consumer groups in support of the FCC’s recent Restoring Internet Freedom Order. This letter urges members of Congress to oppose any attempt by Democrats to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the FCC’s decision to end onerous public utility-style regulation of the internet. Read the text of the letter and other signatories below and view the official letter here.
January 22, 2018
Dear Senators & Representatives:
We, the undersigned organizations, representing millions of taxpayers and consumers
nationwide, urge Congress to oppose usage of the Congressional Review Act to
overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Restoring Internet
Freedom Order.
For years, the Internet thrived and expanded into what we know today under the light-touch
regulatory framework established under the 1996 Telecommunications Act. That legislation,
enacted in bipartisan fashion, allowed the web to grow rapidly, revolutionizing commerce
around the world, creating countless jobs, and improving the lives of billions, all while
keeping reasonable consumer protection mechanisms in place.
Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s 2015 decision to classify the Internet as a public
utility under Title II was a solution in search of a problem, and disrupted the Federal Trade
Commission’s (FTC) tried and true approach. Three unelected bureaucrats undertook the
new Title II decision, whereas the prior classification was passed after long deliberation
between elected representatives from both parties. This is not the way policy should be
conducted, especially in an area that has such a substantial impact on the U.S. economy.
The FCC’s Restoring Internet Freedom Order undoes this hasty, irresponsible measure. It
upholds the principle that the power to change the law rests exclusively with Congress,
not unelected bureaucrats.
Contrary to assertions that, without Title II internet service providers (ISPs) would be
essentially unregulated, Title I allows the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice,
and state Attorneys General to police unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive behavior by
ISPs.
The best consumer safeguard in any market is always vigorous competition. Title II
regulation is antithetical to this fundamental principle. Since the prospect of Title II
regulation was first floated at the FCC in 2010, investment is $200 billion behind
projections. Such public utility-style regulation also has a proven history of boxing-out more
innovative startups in other sectors, while entrenching existing firms.
This lack of investment exacerbates the digital divide between rural and urban communities.
The net cannot be neutral if government regulations deny access to the most vulnerable in
our society. This is the reason why Democrats, such as Clinton administration FCC
Chairman Bill Kennard, Senator Ron Wyden, and former Senator John Kerry all supported a
Title I approach versus Title II for broadband Internet.
We urge you to oppose use of the Congressional Review Act on this matter. A CRA
disapproval resolution would restore and make the FCC’s 2015 overreach permanent – the
FCC could not disclaim Title II powers over the Internet.
Congress had the wisdom to allow a system that permitted business to thrive and still
shielded consumers. Under Title II, the American people got neither.
While we believe that the FTC, DOJ and state Attorneys General already have robust
powers, there may be a need for additional legislation. However, that is a decision for
Congress, not unelected bureaucrats.
It is for these reasons that we ask members of Congress to oppose any attempts to use
the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Restoring Internet Freedom Order.
Sincerely,
Adam Brandon-
President-
FreedomWorks
David Barnes-
Policy Director-
Generation Opportunity
Mario H. Lopez-
President-
Hispanic Leadership Fund
Seton Motley-
President-
Less Government
Daniel Garza-
President-
The Libre Initiative
Bartlett Cleland-
Managing Director-
Madery Bridge Associates
Mike Wendy-
President-
MediaFreedom
Pete Sepp-
President-
National Tax Payers Union
Scott Cleland-
Chairman-
NetCompetition
Karen Kerrigan-
President & CEO-
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council
David Williams-
President-
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Grover Norquist-
President-
Americans for Tax Reform
Lisa B. Nelson-
CEO-
ALEC Action
Phil Kerpen-
President-
American Commitment
Steve Pociask-
President-
American Consumer Institute
Daniel Schneider-
Executive Director-
American Conservative Union
Chrissy Harbin-
Vice President of External Affairs-
Americans for Prosperity
Andrew F. Quinlan-
President-
Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Jeffery L. Mazzella-
President-
Center for Individual Freedom
Clyde Wayne Crews-
Vice President for Policy-
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Thomas A. Schatz-
President-
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Katie McAuliffe-
Executive Director-
Digital Liberty
Nathan Nascimento-
Executive Vice President-
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
George Landrith-
President-
Frontiers of Freedom