Press Releases

TIA Applauds Focus on Broadband & Cybersecurity; Says Net Neutrality Plans will Hurt Consumers & Economy

Arlington, VA (January 20, 2015) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, tonight commented on key tech and telecom elements of President Obama's State of the Union address.

TIA CEO Scott Belcher issued the following statement:

“TIA applauds the president's efforts to advance broadband, improve cybersecurity and open Cuba's telecommunications market. At the same time, we continue to strongly oppose the president's call to reclassify the Internet as a public utility.

“We commend the president for seeking to make broadband more readily available, which will strengthen our nation. Encouraging competition among providers, including municipalities, is essential to making this work.

“The President's focus on cybersecurity recognizes that this is a vital concern for American businesses. New regulations won't stop cyberattacks, but real progress can be made by improving information sharing and giving the private sector better weapons.

“By maintaining the light touch regulatory approach that has given us a robust Internet, we will continue to foster investment and growth.”

For more information on TIA's views on these and other issues, please see a new TIA Now video in which Belcher outlines the ICT industry's New Year's resolutions.

Last month, TIA sent a letter, signed by 60 of America's top technology companies, urging FCC Commissioners and Senate and House leaders to reject reclassification of the Internet under Title II. The companies warned that Title II reclassification could mean a loss of up to $45.4 billion in capital investment over the next five years.

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