WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced her intent to pursue net neutrality regulations once again.  In response, Center for Individual Freedom president Jeffrey Mazzella released the following statement:

“Calls for so-called net neutrality are the product of hysterical predictions about the destruction of the internet, being pushed by far-left activists who want to implement a heavy-handed regulatory regime onto the private sector and consumers. As time has shown, not only were these predictions total fantasy, but America’s light-touch approach to regulating the internet kept our networks resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas tightly regulated markets like the EU had to slash service to keep networks functional. 

“Government control of the internet is bad for freedom and the economy. Under the brief trial of Title II net neutrality rules, investment in telecommunication decreased and the adoption of broadband faltered.

“Furthermore, today's announcement ends years of productive, bipartisan work at the FCC and will inevitably throw a wrench into the many important initiatives underway at the Commission. 

“Right now, the FCC is working to close the digital divide, root out unsecure networking equipment, reform infrastructure permitting, identify spectrum for the America’s 5G and 6G future, kill robocalls for good, reinvigorate the space economy, and more¬. These are critical initiatives that can’t be sidelined by an unnecessary partisan fight. 

“CFIF opposes this latest attempt to revive the repealed net neutrality rules and instead calls for the Commission to pay greater attention to the more pressing issues before it.”

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