U.S. Congressman Fred Upton

Washington, DC, Nov 19 -

Congressman Fred Upton (R-Michigan), senior member and former chairman of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, made the following statement in response to various press reports that the FCC is gearing up to circumvent Congress in regulating broadband.

“I hope that the only turkey cooking next week will be in our kitchens on Thanksgiving and not at the FCC.  I am alarmed and disappointed with press reports indicating the FCC will blatantly seek to circumvent Congress and seize authority that they do not have.  Rather than poison the well before the new Congress is sworn in, I urge the FCC to stand down on any movement toward net neutrality and work together with the new majority when the 112th Congress convenes in January.  We should work to create jobs rather than impose further regulations that will extinguish the flicker of economic hope that now burns with the prospect of a new Congress.”

“After two years of inaction, the Energy and Commerce Committee will be quite active in fulfilling the oversight responsibilities our Founding Fathers expected - the FCC will be prominently featured and Chairman Genachowski will soon be a familiar face on Capitol Hill."