In response to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s announcement that the commission would revive its pursuit of network neutrality regulations, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said on Wednesday that such policies would put the government in control of the Internet.
Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) released a joint statement on the proposed network neutrality regulations.
“These regulations are a solution in search of a problem, and with the many issues on its plate, including implementation of the spectrum incentive auctions, it would be wise for the commission to focus on fostering economic growth, job creation and competition,” the legislators said. “We urge Chairman Wheeler, if he insists on moving forward, to pursue an open and transparent process, consistent with the recommendations of the commission’s report on FCC process reform, as these regulations move forward.”
Network neutrality requires that Internet service providers treat Internet data equally and not charge different rates for different users, content and applications.
The FCC approved “open Internet” rules in 2010 that were intended to protect network neutrality. An appeals court rejected the rules because broadband would have been classified as an “information service” under them.
Congress restricts the FCC’s power to regulate information services, but the commission could gain leverage to impose network neutrality regulations if broadband were reclassified as a “telecommunication service.”