Blackburn Statement on Release of FCC Net Neutrality Rules

Statement

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who serves as Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the release of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Net Neutrality rules.

"The FCC has finally released President Obama's plan to regulate the Internet, which they approved last month. Now we get to find out what is in it," Blackburn said. "The 300 plus page order will take some time to review and analyze. I reiterate my disappointment in the lack of transparency that accompanied this process. The FCC held a public notice and comment period, while the White House secretly gathered stakeholders for private sessions behind closed doors where we recently learned the order was truly drafted.

"Ironically, this order will likely do nothing to address the fairness issues raised by Democrats and Internet activists. Rather, under the guise of keeping the Internet "free and open', they simply advocated for an approach that allows Big Brother to step into the shoes of service providers. The government will regulate rates, create its own fast lanes, control the placement of content, and raise fees and taxes. If you like your service plan, you will not be able to keep it. The age of ObamaNet is upon us and I hope the government proves better at running a network than a website, but logic would seem to dictate that I not hold my breath."

As part of her continuing fight to stop the Obama Administrations efforts to take over the Internet by implementing depression-era Net Neutrality regulations, Blackburn reintroduced the Internet Freedom Act (H.R. 1212), which would block the FCC's Net Neutrality rules by stating that they shall have no force or effect and prohibits the FCC from reissuing new Net Neutrality rules. Blackburn introduced the Internet Freedom Act in both the 112th Congress and 113th Congress.

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