Michael Mandel: Internet Reclassificaiton Would Slow Job Growth and Hurt Economy
The Progressive Policy Institute’s Michael Mandel writes at CNN.com today that the broadband industry has been a leader in the economic recovery, helping to create new jobs and opportunity at a time when many other industries are struggling. However, Mandel argues that the FCC’s Internet reclassification proposal would jeopardize that growth just when the economy needs it most. Some highlights:
"Communications is one of the few areas where people are consuming more since the recession started, and key communications industries have continued to add jobs despite the downturn. … But proposals to regulate internet activity now before the Federal Communications Commission would do the opposite."
"Policymakers should follow the principle of "do no harm" when dealing with communications, one of the few sectors showing vibrant growth. That means the FCC should avoid the temptation to add rules, even with good intentions."
"For now, getting more Americans working is more important than imposing too much regulation on growing sectors. Let's help the job leaders soar."
You can read the full op-ed here.
As always, not looking out for small businesses or consumers
As always, anti-regulation not looking out for small businesses or consumers.
Regulation usually poses a problem when the government dictates prices in some fashion. Good net neutrality laws (by reclassification) should just allow unfettered data flow between an end user/consumer and the network they are accessing, no proactive copyright enforcement or sites paying for better/faster lanes than others.
This way small businesses have a chance to compete and end users/consumers don't default to a potentially inferior "service" just because the "service" pays to be faster or more reliable. Companies with seemingly bottomless pockets should not be able to relegate poorer competitors to a slower internet.
Net neutrality is especially important, with ISPs buying content providers; e.g. Comcast and NBCU. Without net neutrality what's to prevent notoriously greedy companies from making their newly acquired, popular content faster with their internet service while making it slower for others internet providers? Answer: NOTHING! Most of us only have 1 to 3 ISP to choose from where ever we live. They already don't tend to truly compete in a given market, thus allowing them to own content without net neutrality laws makes them too powerful and is likely to NEGATIVELY impact internet growth and the consumer experience.
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