Mike Rounds

Dear Logan,


Thank you for contacting me about net neutrality. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you know, net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers (ISPs) treat all data equally. However, the Obama administration’s Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) so-called “Open Internet Order” greatly increased federal regulation of the internet in an attempt to level the playing field for ISPs. I agree that everyone should have the ability to access broadband services for commercial or personal use, including competitive broadband speeds for rural areas. However, the “Open Internet Order” overreached its authority when it voted to treat ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934.

By reclassifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, ISPs became subject to a more burdensome regulatory framework, which has proven to hurt innovation and growth of the broadband industry. In the two years since the Obama administration’s “Open Internet Order” was enacted, broadband investment has fallen for the first time in the internet era, outside of a recession.

Being a rural state, some South Dakota communities have struggled to receive sufficient broadband service. Having adequate broadband services for all rural and urban communities is a priority of mine, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has expressed similar sentiment. I believe freeing the internet of heavy-handed regulations, like the "Open Internet Order," will boost investment in infrastructure, which will improve the delivery and access of the internet to all South Dakotans.

On November 22, 2017, Chairman Pai released his plan to fully roll back the “Open Internet Order.” His plan, the "Restoring Internet Freedom Order," was confirmed by the FCC Commissioners on December 14, 2017. The “Restoring Internet Freedom Order” will return internet regulations to its traditional light-touch approach. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission, the federal government's most experienced privacy enforcer, will continue to govern online consumer privacy.

I support Chairman Pai's position on this issue. I believe Congress should legislate the principles of net neutrality, rather than a federal bureaucrat. I am committed to preserving the entrepreneurial spirit of the internet and promoting private investment. I firmly believe that Congress should address net neutrality through appropriate legislation. In the meantime, I support returning ISPs to being classified as an information service instead of being regulated like a public utility.

Again, thank you for contacting me about net neutrality. Hearing from you and other South Dakotans is important to me as I work to make the best legislative decisions for our state and nation.

Sincerely,

Mike Rounds
United States Senator