MFP: “Net Neutrality” Regulatory Legislation  Not Needed
Regulating Internet would harm innovation, consumers

Boston, Mass. – Media Freedom Project Executive Director Derek Hunter today released the following statement on the hearing by the FCC on the issue of network management.

“The push for so-called ‘net neutrality’ regulation is a well-funded but misguided one.  The Internet has flourished and become the vital tool it is today precisely because the government has not been interfering in it.  Now is not the time to bring the heavy hand of government regulation to bear on the Internet.” 

“The next generation of Internet applications are going to require massive capital investments by the Internet Service Providers to build the infrastructure needed to accommodate them.  Regulating how that infrastructure can be used will leave them without the incentive or the recourses to ever recover their investments.

“The free-market has played a critical role in the development of and access to the broadband technology and all the Internet applications that now flourish in it.  If the government were to step in with regulations now, it would stifle future expansion and technologies or squash it completely, and the ultimate loser would be the consumer.

“Preemptive regulation is always a mistake.  There is no demonstrated need for Internet regulation, this whole push is based upon the suspicions of a few, very wealthy content specialists.  The FCC should allow this market to continue to grow the way it has, without interference.  They should say no to well-funded special interests and allow the Internet Revolution to continue unhindered.”

###