Net Neutrality Rules 'Would Be Damaging,' Blackburn Says
House Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., hammered the FCC again Monday for its interest in creating net neutrality rules. “Of course net neutrality rules would be damaging,” Blackburn said during a Fox Business news program interview, which she…
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posted. Blackburn lamented Communications Act Title II reclassification of broadband and said it would impose taxes “on your broadband providers, an estimate of $15 billion in new taxes that would come in through a Title II regulation,” a position that has been contested (see 1412010035). “It is called companies trying to find a way to transact business,” she said of Comcast's hammering out a peering deal with Netflix. “Let’s leave it to the private sector.” She said innovators shouldn't need to seek FCC permission before proceeding with innovation, citing the ongoing CES show in Las Vegas and what innovators there would think. “What we don’t want to see is the FCC usurping that authority so they are assigning priority and value to content,” Blackburn said. “The FCC needs to get out of the way and let innovation take place.” Congressional Democrats have largely backed net neutrality rules, some pushing for Title II reclassification.