The current net neutrality debate is clouded with misinformation and misleading claims. And while fiction may be good for reading at the beach, facts are crucial for an informed debate particularly when it comes to something as important as protecting the open internet.
Broadband for America strongly supports net neutrality, but opposes using a Depression-era regulation to govern the internet. The Title II regulatory framework has restrained broadband investment, hampered efforts to connect rural America to high-speed internet and, ultimately, hurt consumers.
Americans deserve permanent net neutrality protections without the harm that comes with Title II. Americans also deserve the facts. Here they are:
- Title II Costs $35 Billion Per Year in Lost Investment In the past 5 years, the specter and application of Title II on the internet has cost Americans $35 billion per year in lost broadband investment. Source: George S. Ford of the Phoenix Center.
- Title II Clearly Reduced Broadband Investment Compared to 2014, broadband investment from the 12 largest ISPs declined by 5.5% in 2016 alone. Source: Hal Singer of the George Washington University Institute for Public Policy.
- Pro-Title II Studies Use Voodoo Economics Title II backers have played fast and loose with the facts to hide the economic harm caused by Title II. One obvious example: they counted investments in Mexico as U.S. investment. Take out erroneous numbers like that, and its clear: broadband investment decreased under Title II. Source: Doug Brake of ITIF.
- A Quarter of Americans Dont Have Broadband Title II Wont Bring It to Them Broadband investment is crucial because 23% of Americans living in urban areas and 28% of Americans living in rural areas still dont have access to high speed internet. Regulations that restrict investment, like Title II, will hurt, not help. Source: Recode.
- Most Americans Oppose Title II Rules A majority 51 percent of Americans agree that the internet should be free from utility-style regulation like Title II. Source: Morning Consult and NCTA survey.