Richard Bennett, ITIF Research Fellow

The Internet has achieved its remarkable success because of the ingenuity and determination of the community of network engineers, operators, and innovators combined with the light touch of its regulators. These dynamics became apparent once again in a recent analysis I conducted of the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009 introduced by Congressman Ed Markey. As long as innovation and new service offerings continue to emerge so quickly, we have to be skeptical of overly-prescriptive new regulations. There’s no reason to choose this point in the Internet’s life to suddenly burden it with cumbersome new regulations. If we do, we risk disrupting this success and falling victim to unintended consequences.

In my analysis, I point to the large community of stakeholders, already robust regulatory systems, FCC authority and the facilities-based competition we have in the US as reasons why the “Markey Bill has a steep hill to climb, four years after its conception to establish its legitimacy.” My concluding point should leave you with the recognition that less in this case, is more, “The (FCC) Commission is due to deliver the National Broadband Plan in February, and if it feels the need for more direction from Congress regarding network management practices, it will surely ask.” Let’s let the Internet community continue the collaboration that has made the Internet what it is today.

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