[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22866]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            FCC WILL STIFLE INVESTMENT WITH NEW REGULATIONS

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, yesterday The Washington Post published an 
editorial about recent rumblings at the Federal Communications 
Commission. It seems that the FCC Chairman is concerned about ``breaks 
and cracks'' in the Internet that pose a threat to openness. His 
prescription for these apparent fissures: the heavy hand of the Federal 
Government.
  As a result, the FCC appears ready to hand down new regulations that 
will hinder Internet Service Providers' ability to manage their own 
networks. The rules would essentially regulate how ISPs manage network 
traffic. But this seems more like a solution in search of a problem. Or 
rather it's a solution that will create a problem by hamstringing 
network operators' ability to manage network congestion.
  The Post is right to question the FCC's proposal. Such overregulation 
will only hamper additional investment by Internet providers, which 
could negatively affect rural areas like much of the district I 
represent.

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