BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), expressing strong opposition to a proposal reinstating the heavy-handed, public-utility regulations of Title II of the Communications Act on the internet. The proposed rules are largely similar to the rules adopted by the FCC in 2015, which reclassified broadband from Title I to Title II.
Title II grants the FCC expansive regulatory powers which include the ability to: regulate rates and practices, compel companies to provide service, and declare a practice illegal if a majority of commissioners declare it “unjust or unreasonable.”
“The growth of the internet continues to be a great American success story. Broadband investment has increased, deployment has increased, speeds have increased, and high-speed internet access has become more affordable than ever. American networks, freed from obtrusive regulations, easily handled the surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the senators wrote. “In contrast, Europe’s heavily regulated internet providers were forced to actively slow down speeds to maintain connectivity. Indeed, America is now a leader in adopting next-generation telecommunications services like 5G and Wi-Fi 6e while Europe struggles to keep pace.”
“We urge you to end this charade and shelve this fifth attempt to adopt so-called ‘net neutrality’ regulations,” the senators concluded.
The letter was led by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ted Cruz (R-TX). Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Budd (R-NC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), James Risch (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Boozman (R-AR), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Marco Rubio (R-FL).
Click here to read the letter.