In a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on the FCC’s newly adopted rules on net neutrality, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler pointed to the 1996 Telecom Act to justify sweeping Internet regulations under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act.
Congressman Louie Gohmert took issue with this, and had some words for Wheeler, accusing him of “playing God with the Internet.”
I would submit to you that something in 1996 had nothing to do with wanting you to take charge of the Internet. And I would also thank you for your willingness to leave some room for exploratory business models and new business models—that’s really so gracious of you. Because before the FCC stepped in, everybody was able to explore new business models!
Watch the video below to see his full remarks: