December 14, 2017

1022 Longworth HOB
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Representative Stivers,

We are pleased that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken the critical step to remove the antiquated, depression-era regulations over the internet that were imposed in February 2015 under former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler.

On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, I want to thank you for your continued support for a “hands-off” approach to the internet that had existed for decades before the 2015 rule change.  As you have noted in the past, this approach guided the evolution of our internet from its infancy into the commercial, informational, and economic power it has become.

The actions taken by the FCC places the behavior of ISPs back under the regulatory framework of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and it further strengthens the transparency and disclosure requirements for companies regarding how an ISP offers internet service.  The removal of the 2015 rules by the FCC does not eliminate the principles of net neutrality; it restores the status quo.

As Congress continues to debate telecommunications policies, I hope you will continue to be a champion of internet freedom.

 Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW

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