Republican leaders said Monday that they are against President Barack Obama's suggestions to further
regulate the Internet to keep it an open network.
"It's disappointing, but not surprising, that the Obama administration continues to disregard the people's will and push for more mandates on our economy," House Speaker
John Boehner said.
"An open, vibrant Internet is essential to a growing economy, and net neutrality is a textbook example of the kind of Washington regulations that destroy innovation and entrepreneurship."
Boehner added that the government should keep its hands out of Internet regulations and not enforce what is called "net neutrality."
"Federal bureaucrats should not be in the business of regulating the Internet — not now, not ever," Boehner said. "In the new Congress, Republicans will continue our efforts to stop this misguided scheme to regulate the Internet, and we'll work to encourage private-sector job creation, starting with many of the House-passed jobs bills that the outgoing Senate majority ignored."
In a separate statement, Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell said technology has blossomed under light government regulation.
"The growth of the Internet and the rapid adoption of mobile technology have been great American success stories, made possible by a light regulatory touch," McConnell said.
"This approach has freed innovators to develop and sell the products people want — and create jobs in the process — without waiting around for government permission. The president's decision today to abandon this successful approach in favor of more heavy-handed regulation that will stifle innovation and concentrate more power in the hands of Washington bureaucrats is a terrible idea. The commission would be wise to reject it."
In a
video statement posted on Monday, Obama called for the Federal Communications Commission to step up and help keep the Internet "open, accessible, and free" by placing tighter restrictions on service providers Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T.
The FCC is a federal agency independent of the Obama administration, so Obama's comments were merely suggestions.
"The time has come for the FCC to recognize that broadband service is of the same importance and must carry the same obligations as so many of the other vital services do," Obama said. "To do that, I believe the FCC should reclassify consumer broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act — while at the same time forbearing from rate regulation and other provisions less relevant to broadband services. This is a basic acknowledgment of the services ISPs provide to American homes and businesses, and the straightforward obligations necessary to ensure the network works for everyone — not just one or two companies."
In May, nine Republican senators sent a
letter to FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler calling for the agency to step back from a proposal to enforce net neutrality.
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