Watchdog Group Slams Government Power Grab on Broadband in ‘Infrastructure’ Bill

For Immediate Release         Contact: Courtney Mattison (202-535-7492)

July 23, 2021 

Washington, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) opposes measures to increase government authority and the eradication of guardrails to protect consumers as the Senate negotiates the broadband funding section of the “infrastructure” bill. Further, TPA opposes any, and all attempts to impose rate regulation or government control of the internet.

In response, TPA President David Williams offered the following comment:

“First and foremost, an infrastructure bill is no place for new rules on broadband deployment.  Also, the CARES Act provided for billions of dollars in broadband funding, so any taxpayer money in the ‘infrastructure bill is unnecessary.

“Working from home on a zoom call or binge-watching Netflix, Americans have learned how well the internet worked during the pandemic.  The internet was able to handle the increased traffic because the government’s light regulatory touch. Speed and investment skyrocketed upon the repeal of the onerous Title II regulations in 2017. Sadly, while Americans have learned this lesson, it seems that current lawmakers have not.

“Congress must avoid expanding FCC authority beyond its current boundaries. They must also steer clear of efforts to impose rate regulations on low-income broadband. This price fixing will only decrease the quality of offerings to these vulnerable communities.

“Rumors that the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) will have unilateral discretion on setting speed benchmarks will render guardrails that protect taxpayer money meaningless. The country needs a more simple framework that provides certainty and is not dependent on the whims of bureaucrats or politicians.

“Congress must look to protect the time, money, and data privacy of American taxpayers. Instead, it looks like they will ignore these key priorities in favor of expanding the government’s role in broadband policy. This would be a terrible mistake.”

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.