Chairman Goodlatte: "President Obama's Regulatory Approach Would Leave Consumers with Fewer Choices and Higher Prices, the Antithesis of Net Neutrality"

Statement

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) sent a letter today to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the issue of net neutrality. In the letter, Chairman Goodlatte challenges the notion that regulating the Internet is the most effective way to achieve net neutrality and protect consumers from discriminatory conduct. The letter explains why vigorous enforcement of our nation's antitrust laws is a superior approach to promoting an open and free Internet, including the fact than an antitrust approach allows maximum flexibility and innovation in the marketplace rather than a one-size-fits-all government mandate.

In addition, Chairman Goodlatte issued the following comment in response to statements released today by President Obama and FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on net neutrality:

Chairman Goodlatte: "Today, President Obama called on the FCC to impose a decades-old regulatory structure on one of the most dynamic and competitive marketplaces in history, the Internet. This approach is of questionable legality and would significantly diminish innovation on the Internet, investment in its infrastructure and the judgment of the free market would be replaced with the decisions of a government regulator. In short, President Obama's regulatory approach would leave consumers with fewer choices and higher prices, the antithesis of net neutrality.

"Regulations designed for old, monopolistic long-distance telephone lines would have disastrous results on the Internet. A better way to address issues of net neutrality is to turn to our nation's time-tested antitrust laws. These laws have consistently demonstrated their ability to prevent discriminatory and anti-competitive conduct.

"I urge Chairman Wheeler to examine the history of the Internet and how the free market has enhanced its rapid growth, the record from the Judiciary Committee's recent hearing on whether antitrust law or regulation is more effective at protecting consumers and innovation on the Internet, and reports from the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission--the two antitrust enforcement agencies--that vigorous enforcement of antitrust laws are the most efficient way to achieve an open and competitive Internet."

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