Michigan House Advises FCC Not To Classify Broadband Under Title II
Legislators Say Genachowski's Plan Threatens Internet Infrastructure, Job Growth
John Eggerton -- Multichannel News, 5/15/2010 8:21:46 AM
The Michigan House of Representatives has adopted a resolution asking the FCC not to reclassify broadband as a Title II service.
The resolution was introduced May 14 by Rep. Jeff Mayes and had more than 60 cosponsors from both parties. It has no force of law, but it was forceful in its language opposing Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski's plan to apply a handful of Title II common carrier regulations to the transmission component of the Internet.
The resolution said it was the judgment of the Michigan house that "monopoly-era provisions of Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate the Internet will slow investment in Michigan's Internet broadband infrastructure and jeopardize future job growth."
The last thing Michigan needs in the wake of the nosedive of the auto industry is another hit to jobs, but Genachowski has repeatedly said that his approach is moderate and will allow investment, while keeping the Internet open and accessible to entrepreneurs who could become the next Google or Amazon.
But the legislators see it differently. Their resolution, holding that the Internet has flourished under a light regulatory touch, asks the FCC "to refrain from regulating Internet broadband services as common carrier services under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934."
AT&T, which has been arging against Title II reclassification, praises the resolution, copies of which were directed by the Michigan House to be sent to the President, top congressional leaders and members of the FCC.
""What this industry needs most is certainty so companies can continue to invest and sorely needed jobs can be created. Everyone is concerned that we don't have that now," said AT&T executive vice president of federal relations Tim McKone. "You don't have to look farther than what happened in Michigan today in the early morning hours. The state hardest hit by job losses is so concerned by the direction of the Commission that they approved, by a large bi-partisan margin, a resolution asking that the Commission consider another approach that doesn't endanger jobs."
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