Net Neutrality: Revisiting the Repeal

Event Summary

On October 12, AEI’s Mark Jamison hosted an expert panel discussion on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) consideration to restore net neutrality–internet regulation.
The FCC’s Brendan Carr began the discussion by characterizing the net neutrality debate as backward-looking and explained it centers on the Title II regulation provision, which would expand the federal government’s control of the internet.

The panelists highlighted issues with net neutrality, including Fifth Amendment property conflicts and disproven discrimination claims, and that Europe’s heavy-regulation telecommunications serves as a poor model. Commissioner Carr noted that revisiting net neutrality detracts from FCC priorities such as spectrum allocation, the Universal Service Fund, and broadband expansion.

The panel concluded with takeaways for the audience: Net neutrality was always a solution in search of a problem, leading 5G nations to avoid Title II approaches to telecommunications, and it’s time to rethink the administrative state.

—Kate Beinkampen

Event Description

Telecommunications experts are sparring over net neutrality again following Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Jessica Rosenworcel’s proposal to reinstate the policy. Net neutrality mandates that internet providers treat all bits the same, and its repeal in 2017 alarmed advocates who warned the internet would no longer be fair, open, or safe. However, the internet thrived after the rollback, and US consumers experienced better broadband than did their counterparts in more regulated countries.

Join AEI’s Daniel Lyons, Jeffrey Eisenach, and Mark Jamison for a discussion with the FCC’s Brendan Carr and Aalborg University’s Roslyn Layton on how bringing back net neutrality rules would create at best unnecessary—and potentially harmful—regulation and add uncertainty in the market.

Event Materials

Event Transcript