Recently the Illinois legislature introduced a bill that would aggressively regulate and implement price controls on internet content. The Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 would bring unprecedented government control to the internet and would restrict what consumers may access.

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Although this bill has “competition” in the title, don’t be fooled. While offering limited cable franchise reform, it would not allow internet service providers from charging different prices for different amounts of bandwidth and impose heavy-handed build-out mandates on prospective providers. This bad policy will only work to stifle innovation and limit true competition in the marketplace. Government needs to learn to get out of the way and let the market work.

So-called “net neutrality” mandates are a way for large internet content providers such as Google and Amazon to gain a free pass without paying their fair share for the extra amount of bandwidth they use. Lawmakers should be less worried about the interests of companies like these, and more concerned with keeping the internet open and free from government regulation. Net neutrality would trample on the free internet that you enjoy today!

Contact your legislators and let them know that this bill would slow economic competition in Illinois, thereby harming consumers. Tell them to oppose “net neutrality” and increased government control in the telecommunications market.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Sincerely,

Dick Armey
Chairman
FreedomWorks