Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today joined in blasting President Barack Obama’s comments on net neutrality, echoing earlier criticism made by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
In a statement from AIF President Tom Feeney, the association believes Obama’s suggestion to regulate Internet services is “not in the best interest of Florida businesses and the economy.”
On Monday, Obama pressed the Federal Communications Commission to reclassify ISPs (such as Comcast, Verizon and Time Warner Cable) under Title II of the Communications Act, giving the agency greater authority over companies that provide Internet service. Under the new designation, Internet would be a utility, such as electricity and water. Net neutrality advocates say a Title II classification would give the FCC the power to regulate corporations from blocking Web traffic or giving preference to providers.
“While we share the same beliefs in terms of an open and transparent Internet,” Feeney says, “AIF believes the Internet has flourished with little regulation to date and believes the federal government should not try to micromanage Internet access.
Feeney calls on the FCC to avoid “massive unilateral changes to Internet regulation that would disrupt the free market benefits, including increasing investments and furthering technological advances.”
Rubio, who serves on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, believes that instead of reclassifying Internet service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, the FCC should update and clarify the law, rather than create additional rules.
