Arlington, VA – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today said that the FCC’s plan to reclassify the Internet as a Title II utility will hold back investment, innovation and growth.  
 
Reacting to today’s FCC Net Neutrality vote, TIA CEO Scott Belcher issued the following statement (in addition, a video statement by Belcher is available here):

“We share the goal of an open Internet, but Title II regulation is unnecessary and will harm consumers and the economy more than it will help. A light regulatory approach has resulted in nearly two decades of remarkable technology progress and increasing speeds, access and choice. In fact, private sector investment has led to a 250 percent increase in connection speeds since 2010 – jumping from 4.6 Mbps to 11.4 Mbps.  Consumers and the country have realized incredible benefits from the $73 billion in annual private sector investments.

“The uncertainty created by the FCC’s plan will jeopardize the fast pace of private sector investment and improvements.  In addition to having an immediate impact on investment, the FCC’s plan is a Trojan Horse. If Title II is not struck down by the courts, a new Administration or new Commissioners could push the FCC to implement the full, heavy-handed regulatory authority it provides.

“Government micromanagement of the marketplace has failed repeatedly, and it won’t work now. The best way to deliver more options for consumers and prevent ‘slow lanes’ is to encourage private sector infrastructure investment.

“We are confident that Title II regulation will be rejected as Congress, the courts and consumers fully understand how it will hold back investment, innovation and growth. While we support the coming legal challenges, our plan is to work with Congress to find a reasonable, balanced approach to an open Internet.”

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For more information visit www.tiaonline.org.