These questions are culled from phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails sent to Rep. Gallegly's Camarillo, Solvang, and Washington offices. Each week Rep. Gallegly adds another question and answer. Please add your comments.
April 15, 2011
Question: How did you vote on authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate the Internet?
Answer: I voted to oppose giving the FCC authority to regulate the Internet. On December 21, 2010, the FCC issued a rule that would prohibit Internet providers from slowing or blocking legal websites or Internet services because of concerns over bandwidth.
Unfortunately, this new regulation would discourage broadband providers from investing in new technologies that would give consumers access to lower priced, faster connection speeds.
Although the current rule is on hold after a federal appeals court ruled in April 2010 that the FCC does not have the authority to enact net-neutrality rules, the House of Representatives acted to specifically disapprove of the FCC net neutrality rules. Representative Greg Walden introduced H. J. Res. 37 on February 16, 2011. H. J. Res. 37 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 240 to 179 on April 8, 2011. The joint resolution now goes to the Senate.
For previous Questions of the Week chronologically and by topic, please see my Questions of the Week page.
I would like to applaud Rep. Gallegly for voting to oppose giving the FCC authority to regulate the Internet. Finally, someone is listening. Voting to oppose this will enable small businesses to save a bit of money for change. Thank you!
This issue is not a simple for or against decision. While I understand the desire to not have the FCC regulate, I am also concerned about the practices of the Telco's and Cable companies. AT&T and Verizon are searching for ways to "tax" the content providers. While I have no problem paying for for faster Internet, I do have a problem with my provider deciding to throttle video from Youtube or Netflix because they haven't agreed to pay them a royalty.