Press Releases

Responding to President Obama's Comments, TIA says Title II Reclassification will Harm Consumers, the Economy & Technological Progress

Arlington, Va. (Nov. 10, 2014) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today responded to President Obama's statement endorsing the reclassification of the Internet as a Title II utility. TIA CEO Scott Belcher issued the following statement:

"We are deeply concerned over President Obama's endorsement of reclassifying the Internet as a Title II utility-like telecom service. Such a move would set the industry back decades, and threaten the private sector investment that is critically needed to ensure that the network can meet surging demand. We saw a significant negative impact on investment the last time restrictive Title II regulation was in place, and no one will benefit from returning to that failed policy.

"As manufacturers and suppliers who build the Internet backbone and supply the devices and services that ride over it, our companies strongly urge regulators to refrain from reclassification that will guarantee harm to consumers, the economy, and the very technologies we are trying to protect."

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