[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 59 (Monday, April 18, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NO RATE REGULATION OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 2666) to 
     prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from 
     regulating the rates charged for broadband Internet access 
     service:

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 
2666, the No Rate Regulation Act. Many small businesses and many of my 
neighbors in the Tampa Bay area have experienced loss of internet, TV 
and phone services. I want to ensure that my neighbors and businesses 
are protected--I am fighting for them to receive the services they paid 
for. The No Rate Regulation Act aims to dismantle the open internet and 
take the ``cop off the beat'' by hamstringing the FCC's ability to 
protect the consumer. Because of these concerns on behalf of my 
neighbors and small businesses, today I will vote against this bill.
  This is timely legislation for all the wrong reasons. On April 1 of 
this year, Frontier Communications assumed Verizon's TV, internet and 
land-line phone services in the Tampa Bay area. Since the transition, 
small businesses and individual consumers in Florida have experienced 
loss of internet, TV and phone services. Consumers are paying for 
services they are not receiving. Even now, customers are reporting 
waiting for Frontier's technicians that are ``no shows''. Frontier 
appears to be unable to provide the necessary services to my neighbors, 
at the present time.
  I am here today to ensure all customers are protected. I have been 
fighting to protect the consumer and for robust public interest 
reviews. On February 2nd I stated in my letter to the FCC regarding the 
proposed Bright House Networks/Time Warner Cable/Charter merger that it 
is appropriate for the FCC to investigate that ``best practices'' are 
present on behalf consumers.
  The awesome power of the internet should be used to build up our 
community and grow opportunity for our children. I am proud that last 
year Tampa was selected as one of only 27 communities nationwide to 
participate in ConnectHOME, which promotes locally tailored solutions 
to help bridge the gap in digital access for working-class households 
by addressing the barriers they have to high-speed broadband.
  We should be dedicated to significant community boosts in access to 
digital opportunities for our students. We should be working with all 
agencies to develop the types of skills needed to secure today's higher 
paying jobs for all our kids. Instead of inviting a promising tomorrow, 
Republicans have chosen to focus on a bad bill with no future today.
  On the House floor Republicans have offered the No Rate Regulation 
Act. If passed it could undermine key provisions in the FCC's Open 
Internet order and harm the Commission's ability to protect consumers. 
This bill simply fails to define a clear definition and experts assert 
that the bill could result in unintended consequences. The No Rate 
Regulation Act is overly broad and extends far beyond the goals of 
codifying the FCC's forbearance from applying provisions of the 
Communications Act related to tariffs, rate approval, or other forms of 
utility regulation. The FCC should not be stymied in their 
participation of mergers and acquisitions like the Bright House/TWC/
Charter proposal. For example, I have said that BHN's Connect2Compete 
Program should be maintained, but as written, this legislation could 
undermine the FCC's ability to encourage customer service agreements 
that protect the most vulnerable.
  We have seen the Comcast Universal merger approval include the supply 
of an affordable internet program called the Internet Essentials. These 
stipulations are important and should be maintained in other deals 
moving forward.
  Mr. Chair, today I will vote against this Republican bill that could 
undermine key provisions in the FCC's Open Internet Order and harm the 
FCC's ability to protect consumers. We should not be undermining the 
FCC. This legislation could exacerbate already negative consequences 
for my neighbors in the Tampa Bay area. I will continue work to protect 
consumers and neighbors in my community and vote no on the No Rate 
Regulation Act.

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