Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and members of the House Judiciary Committee in sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Tom Wheeler expressing deep concern with the FCCs approval of net neutrality rules. The members signing the letter also noted that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the impact of the FCCs rule change on March 17 2015. In the letter members invited Chairman Wheeler to testify at the upcoming hearing and noted that legislation might be necessary to ensure antitrust laws are the preferred enforcement method against anticompetitive conduct on the Internet.
In addition to Congressman Smith the letter was signed by Chairman Goodlatte Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) Steve King (R-Iowa) Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) Ted Poe (R-Texas) Tom Marino (R-Pa.) Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) Doug Collins (R-Ga.) Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) Ken Buck (R-Colo.) John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) Dave Trott (R-Mich.) and Mike Bishop (R-Mich.).
Below are excerpts from the letter. To read the entire letter click here.
The Commissions actions today threaten the future viability of the Internet and Americas ability to compete in the global technology marketplace. Todays rules do not offer an enduring solution only a partisan headline for a partisan initiative that is destined for years of litigation generating years of debilitating uncertainty.
The assertion that these rules will foster innovation and competition lacks factual or historical support. Witness testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on this very issue detailed the many instances in which regulation of the kind manifested by Title II and the Commissions new rules stifled competition including in the context of both railroad transportation and long-distance telephone networks. Indeed it was antitrust law not regulation which ultimately introduced competition to the long-distance telephone market.
We are also troubled by the manner in which the Open Internet rules were formulated. On November 10 2014 President Obama urged the FCC to impose Title II regulations on the Internet. Shortly thereafter you began making statements in support of a Title II approach. Certainly the timing of your support for Title II following the Presidents recommendation calls into question the degree if not the existence of the FCCs independence from the White House.
We will not stand by idly as the White House using the FCC attempts to advance rules that imperil the future of the Internet. We plan to support and urge our colleagues to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving the Open Internet rules. Not only will such a resolution nullify the Open Internet rules the resolution will prevent the FCC from relying on Title II for any future net neutrality rules unless Congress explicitly instructs the FCC to take such action.
The Committee on the Judiciary will take every action necessary to ensure that the Internet remains a free competitive marketplace.
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and members of the House Judiciary Committee in sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Tom Wheeler expressing deep concern with the FCCs approval of net neutrality rules. The members signing the letter also noted that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the impact of the FCCs rule change on March 17 2015. In the letter members invited Chairman Wheeler to testify at the upcoming hearing and noted that legislation might be necessary to ensure antitrust laws are the preferred enforcement method against anticompetitive conduct on the Internet.
In addition to Congressman Smith the letter was signed by Chairman Goodlatte Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) Steve King (R-Iowa) Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) Ted Poe (R-Texas) Tom Marino (R-Pa.) Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) Doug Collins (R-Ga.) Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) Ken Buck (R-Colo.) John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) Dave Trott (R-Mich.) and Mike Bishop (R-Mich.).
Below are excerpts from the letter. To read the entire letter click here.
The Commissions actions today threaten the future viability of the Internet and Americas ability to compete in the global technology marketplace. Todays rules do not offer an enduring solution only a partisan headline for a partisan initiative that is destined for years of litigation generating years of debilitating uncertainty.
The assertion that these rules will foster innovation and competition lacks factual or historical support. Witness testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on this very issue detailed the many instances in which regulation of the kind manifested by Title II and the Commissions new rules stifled competition including in the context of both railroad transportation and long-distance telephone networks. Indeed it was antitrust law not regulation which ultimately introduced competition to the long-distance telephone market.
We are also troubled by the manner in which the Open Internet rules were formulated. On November 10 2014 President Obama urged the FCC to impose Title II regulations on the Internet. Shortly thereafter you began making statements in support of a Title II approach. Certainly the timing of your support for Title II following the Presidents recommendation calls into question the degree if not the existence of the FCCs independence from the White House.
We will not stand by idly as the White House using the FCC attempts to advance rules that imperil the future of the Internet. We plan to support and urge our colleagues to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving the Open Internet rules. Not only will such a resolution nullify the Open Internet rules the resolution will prevent the FCC from relying on Title II for any future net neutrality rules unless Congress explicitly instructs the FCC to take such action.
The Committee on the Judiciary will take every action necessary to ensure that the Internet remains a free competitive marketplace.
