The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun a network neutrality rulemaking to prevent broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers from unfairly discriminating against applications such as Facebook and Netflix. In a new insight discussing both his initial comments and reply comments, Director of Technology and Innovation Policy Jeffrey Westling examines the potential harms of reclassifying broadband as a utility.

Westling concludes:

While most would agree with the general principles of network neutrality and the open Internet, the proposed rules would not achieve the goals the FCC seeks to meet. Instead, reclassification would harm investment and the consumers who benefit from that investment. The FCC should abandon its proposed rules and continue the light-touch framework that has led to the most robust Internet economy in the world.

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