TechAmerica Statement Following The Federal Communications Commission's Reclassification Of Broadband Internet As A Utility

TechAmerica, the public sector and public advocacy department of CompTIA, recently issued this statement following the Federal Communication Commission’s 3-2 vote, along party lines, approving an Order adopting new open Internet rules that enhance transparency and prevent ISPs from blocking content, throttling traffic, and offering fast lanes. To accomplish this, the FCC reclassified broadband Internet access service from an information service to a telecommunications service, and it will now be governed under Title II of the Communications Act.

“For over a year now, we have been advocating for strong open Internet rules to protect businesses operating online, and we applaud the FCC for putting such rules in place,” said Matthew Starr, director, public advocacy, TechAmerica. “However, we have some concerns about the path the FCC has taken to reach these new rules. Regulatory certainty is key to investment in the communications and information technology industry, and these rules do not provide the certainty we had hoped for. The fate of these rules is likely to be decided by a panel of judges 3 or 4 years from now. We thus will continue to pursue a bipartisan legislative solution to an open Internet that will clarify the FCC’s authority to regulate in this space.”

About CompTIA | TechAmerica
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the information technology (IT) industry. Its 2,000+ member companies, 1.8 million certification holders, and 3,000 academic and training partners, are at the forefront of innovation and digitalization. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through educational programs, market intelligence, networking events and professional certifications.

Through its TechAmerica public advocacy efforts, CompTIA champions member-driven business and IT priorities that impact the entire continuum of information technology companies – from small IT service providers and software developers to large equipment manufacturers and communications service providers. CompTIA, along with its policy arm TechAmerica, gives eyes, ears and a voice to technology companies, allowing them to quickly and comprehensively understand policy developments – and then do something about it. CompTIA fosters an environment for members to succeed in information technology through comprehensive global, national and regional advocacy as well as high-level business intelligence that delivers an edge in the marketplace.