April 14, 2016

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Representative,

On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I strongly urge you to support H.R. 2666, the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act.  This legislation will prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating broadband rates. 

In February 2015, the FCC reclassified the Internet as a Title II communications service, which could subject Internet access and Internet service providers (ISPs) to rate regulation.  FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler subsequently assured members of Congress numerous times that he would forbear from regulating rates on Internet access.  However, while one FCC chairman may choose to forbear from rate regulation, a future FCC chairman may choose to begin regulating rates under Title II unless legislation such as H.R. 2666 is enacted to prevent such an action. 

Any form of rate regulation, or even the threat of regulation, has a negative impact on Internet service providers (ISPs) and the economy.  According to a study by the George Washington Institute of Public Policy, FCC regulation of broadband rates could cost 43,560 jobs and reduce economic output by $3.4 billion over a five-year period.

I urge you to support H.R. 2666 in order to protect fair and competitive access to the Internet.  All votes pertaining to the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act will be among those considered in CCAGW’s 2016 Congressional Ratings. 

Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW