September 14, 2020

Brett Swanson of the American Enterprise Institute writes that the “pandemic has validated the historical US approach to broadband that values private investment over government regulation.”
“Facing unprecedented increases in demand of 20 to 40 percent during COVID-19 quarantines, American networks and network operators responded admirably, while European regulators had to ask Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon to reduce the quality of their video streams to ease demand on networks.”

September 2, 2020

Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation writes that instead of investing more in broadband government should eliminate obstacles to investment, obstacles it created in the first place.
He cites New Mexico’s Gross Receipts Tax (GRT): “One problem with the GRT is that it taxes businesses for investing in tools that will improve the services they provide.”
He also writes that franchise fees and other rights-of-way access fees hinder investment.

August 11, 2020

“Competitive carriers also shouldn’t be forced into a Hobson’s choice of having to accept the scarlet letter of the outdated ‘common carrier’ classification of the old telephone monopolies of the 1930s,” writes Jeffrey Mazzella, president of the Center for Individual Freedom. “Those anachronisms only open up a wide range of other regulatory burdens and obligations on companies, instead of enabling them to focus on the imperative to get more people connected.”

https://www.insidesources.com/to-boost-broadband-clear-regulatory-underbrush-and-political-patronage/

July 31, 2020

In a webcast speech, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said that rules meant to promote diversity in the broadcast industry have been a “complete failure.”

He maintained that removing “our limitations” would lead to more minority investment and ownership.

He cited FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s effort to adopt a radio incubator program that would entice existing broadcast owners to partner with minority small business entrepreneurs. But he admitted that the initiative “was upended by a few squabbling industry participants” when the effort was expanded into television ownership.

“Absent Supreme Court intervention, it will be years before any action is even considered again at the Commission,” he said. “This represents a huge disappointment for the agency and a lost opportunity for society.”

https://www.multichannel.com/blog/orielly-urges-more-cable-broadcast-process-reform

July 24, 2020

Over regulation of the banking industry under Dodd-Frank has cut off over one million Americans from the banking system, a Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) study shows.
CEI says that one of the most repressive provisions of the 2011 law is the Durbin amendment, which places price controls on fees that banks and credit unions charge retailers to process debit card purchases. The costs that banks were not permitted to recover were passed on to consumers.
There is good news as well: Congress appears reluctant to repeat and extend this over regulation policy mistake.

July 20, 2020

In a commentary, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance writes that “low take rates and failing systems show why federal, state and local leaders shouldn’t look to government internet projects to close the digital divide. Instead, government can facilitate the expansion of rural broadband by relaxing regulations that might stymie broadband growth by private providers that have been steadily working to bring high-speed internet to all people.”

https://www.livingstonparishnews.com/opinion/editorials/opinion-better-broadband-mapping-pushed-by-congress-will-aid-rural-expansion/article_8e43b532-c6b1-11ea-84f6-9366ad0450c9.html