WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas),
Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,
today asked Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski
to stand down on implementing net neutrality regulations, as it appears the
agency plans to take action on the issue in December before the start of the
next session of Congress.
“It is reported that the FCC is contemplating action that
would impose net neutrality rules onto communications companies that will
threaten the Internet’s spirit of innovation and its future economic growth,”
said Senator Hutchison. “The Internet as an open platform for innovation
is not an aspiration, it is a reality. I have not seen any evidence to
date that would justify this regulatory overreach. In fact, the Internet
has developed and thrived precisely because it has not been weighed down with
burdensome government regulations. This has allowed the web to evolve to meet
swift changes without having to worry about new government roadblocks holding
up progress.”
“I am especially troubled that this action would occur
without Congressional input and before the new members of Congress have been
sworn in. The American people clearly repudiated this type of government
expansion on November 2nd. FCC Chairman Genachowski needs to stand down
from his plans to impose onerous net neutrality restrictions. If he
decides to move forward, I will explore all options available to keep the FCC
from implementing regulations that will threaten the innovation and job
creation opportunities associated with the Internet.”
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