FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2006
Contact: Jeffrey Mazzella
703-535-5836
CONGRESS, HANDS OFF THE INTERNETUnneeded Government Regulation Would Slow 'Net's Growth, Stunt Potential
ALEXANDRIA, VA. — As the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee concluded its hearing to examine "Net Neutrality" legislation, the Center for Individual Freedom urged Congress to reject any all regulation of the Internet.
"The growth and success of the Internet as a tool for expanded commerce and the free flow of ideas can be directly attributed to the government's 'hands off the Internet' approach," said Jeffrey Mazzella, CFIF's president. "Consumers have never witnessed the explosive growth of a new technology as they've enjoyed with the Internet. It would be a grave mistake to risk slowing that growth and stunting the Internet's potential with unnecessary government rules and regulations."
A recent survey by the American Consumer Institute found that 84 percent of respondents want to be able to purchase faster, safer and more reliable Internet services for household use. Keeping the Internet free of government intervention is vital if the market is to meet these stated needs of consumers, Mazzella said.
"Organizations calling for Net Neutrality legislation are misguided," Mazzella said. "They are hoping that by empowering government to choose winners and losers, they'll end up in the winner's circle. But, as history teaches us, when the government plays such a role, there are rarely any winners at all.
"The Internet market, where the consumer is king and enjoys a wealth of competitive choices, is no place for government regulation or Congressional oversight. Consumers, not the government, should drive development of Internet speed, applications and prices," Mazzella concluded.
The Center for Individual Freedom (www.cfif.org) is a non-partisan, non-profit constitutional and free-market advocacy organization. CFIF opposes over-burdensome state and federal regulations and taxing regimes that will impede the evolution of the Internet and e-commerce.