Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released a copy of the letter it sent to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin, urging the FCC not to impose regulations on the Internet:

“Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) is pleased to submit comments on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) notice of inquiry (NOI) regarding broadband market practices. CAGW is a private, non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing more than 1.2 million members and supporters nationwide. The organization’s mission is to eliminate waste, mismanagement, and inefficiency in the federal government.

Currently, the broadband market is characterized by increasing investment, falling prices, and growing competition.  There is no indication that this will change or that there is any justification for government intervention and regulation.  Such regulation would hurt taxpayers and consumers, as a new bureaucracy is spawned and Internet providers are restricted in their ability to innovate.  While those who seek government oversight claim there will be a raft of anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices by broadband providers, the performance of the broadband market refutes their claim. 

For example, in the NOI, the FCC asks “whether network platform providers and others favor or disfavor particular content...”  This question is at the heart of the debate over so-called “network neutrality.”  Neutrality advocates claim that such regulation is needed because providers will otherwise favor certain content.  However, the NOI will find there has not been any instance of a network platform provider disfavoring particular content.  The entire rationale of those supporting regulation is based on a hypothetical, indeed imaginary harm.

The FCC’s existing principles for an open Internet include upholding consumer access to lawful Internet content, applications, and services.  That access is available today, and in fact could be impeded should network neutrality be imposed.  Such government intervention would stifle the investment necessary to expand the Internet to accommodate reliable, high-quality broadband service throughout the nation.

Imposing regulations would be counterproductive, especially when there is no real problem to be addressed.  Government interference in the Internet will be costly to taxpayers and consumers, and should be avoided.  Despite its moniker, there is nothing neutral about network neutrality.  

CAGW hopes you will consider these comments during your NOI.  We would be pleased to provide more information should it be required.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.