Comments to FCC on Restoring Internet Freedom Proposed Rulemaking

Monday, July 17, 2017 – 11:00am

To: Ms. Marlene Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554

Re: Restoring Internet Freedom (WC Docket No. 17-108)

Dear Ms. Dortch:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”), the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations, and dedicated to promoting, protecting, and defending America’s free enterprise system, respectfully submits these comments to the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) in the above-referenced proceeding—otherwise known as the Restoring Internet Freedom rulemaking.

The Chamber thanks Chairman Ajit Pai for transparently releasing the text of the Restoring Internet Freedom NPRM a month in advance of the Open Meeting which initiated the rulemaking and for providing an extended comment period. The Chamber fully supports the Commission’s proposal to classify broadband access as an “information service”1 as opposed to the 2015 Open Internet Order’s 2designation of broadband service as a “common carrier,” which triggered public-utility style regulation of the internet under Title II of the rotary-phone era Communications Act of 1934…