Key Vote NO on CRA to Restore Obama's Internet Regulation, S.J.Res. 52

On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact your senators and ask them to vote NO on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order CRA Resolution of Disapproval, S.J.Res. 52. This resolution would provide for congressional disapproval of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Restoring Internet Freedom Order, which repealed burdensome Title II Internet regulations.

The Internet expanded rapidly from its early days, into what we all know and love today, with a light-touch regulatory framework. This framework was developed through the careful consideration of legislators on both sides of the aisle. In fact, some of the most vocal advocates for a light regulatory touch were Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), as well as President Bill Clinton.

However, in 2015, the Open Internet Order was passed by three unelected bureaucrats from the Obama-era FCC. It was rammed through with very little transparency or collaboration with the other two FCC Commissioners at the time. The Open Internet Order subjected Internet providers to intrusive and onerous regulations under what is know as Title II. This is not the way policy should be conducted, especially when it comes to the Internet, an area that has a significant impact on the lives of Americans and the U.S. economy.

The Open Internet Order was a “solution” in search of a problem. The previous framework allowed for massive growth and innovation on the web. It also had a system in place to police police unfair and deceptive practices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state Attorneys General, and the Department of Justice all made sure the Internet was fair, but also allowed for flexibility. In 2017, the FCC, under a new Republican majority passed the Restoring Internet Freedom Order, repealing the heavy-handed Obama-era regulations and returning to the proven, bipartisan, light-touch framework.

The Restoring Internet Freedom Order promises to bring back investment. Since the Obama FCC first floated their heavy-handed framework, investment in the Internet has been $200 billion behind schedule. It is vital to get back ahead, so our tech companies can compete globally, provide new services to consumers, and help more Americans gain access to the Internet.

S.J.Res. 52 would undo the Restoring Internet Freedom Order and reinstate the Obama administration’s Internet red tape. This will hurt tech companies, as well as consumers. Internet access is becoming vital to commerce, and many Americans still lack connectivity. In order to get service to these most vulnerable parts of the country, we need an Internet free of the meddling hand of government, so it can innovate and expand as it did for so many years before the Obama-era regulations took effect.

It is for these reasons, I urge you to contact your senators and ask them to vote NO on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order CRA Resolution of Disapproval, S.J.Res. 52. FreedomWorks will double weight the vote on our 2018 Congressional Scorecard. The scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the FreedomFighter Award, which recognizes Members of the House and Senate who consistently vote to support economic freedom and individual liberty.