500 Small Internet Providers Oppose FCC’s Plan to Restore Net Neutrality with ACA Connects

Earlier this year, the FCC adopted a new rule that will reinstate Net Nutrality. Then in April, the FTC and FCC announced a joint partnership to enforce net neutrality and regulate the Internet. For years, the dispute has revolved around who has what control over the Internet and whether it can regulate it – the FTC or the FCC. Now both sides will work together to enforce regulations for ISPs. But now Congressional Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) has introduced a resolution condemning the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) order to classify broadband Internet service as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act.

ACA Connects, an industry organization representing more than 500 smaller and mid-sized independent companies that provide internet, video and phone services to 31.9 million households, joins the opposition in opposing the move.

“The FCC’s takeover of the Internet is unwarranted and creates an unpredictable and unsustainable environment for small and independent providers trying to make the necessary investments to close the digital divide,” Grant Spellmeyer, president and CEO of ACA Connects, said in a statement sent to Cord Cutters News. “ACA Connects fully supports Congressman Bob Latta’s resolution. We thank him for his critical leadership as chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce.”

With these new rules, the FCC will reclassify ISPs as Title II companies. This gives the FCC and, in cooperation with the FTC, greater power to regulate how they are conducted.

“Consumers don’t want their broadband provider to give up great deals by offering fast connections for some services and slow connections for others. They do not want their providers to engage in blocking, throttling and paid prioritization,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC chairwoman. “If consumers have problems, they expect their national communications expert body to be able to respond. Now we can. Working with our colleagues at the FTC, we will protect consumers and keep the Internet open, defend national security, and monitor network resiliency and reliability. I thank Chairwoman Khan and her team for their leadership and cooperation on consumer protection.”

“The FTC is primarily focused on protecting Americans from illegal business tactics, from combating AI-powered voice cloning scams to fighting the scourge of robocalls. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the FCC,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “Effective enforcement requires a focus on upstream actors that enable unlawful conduct, and having the FCC as a partner will be critical to this.”

All this comes amid growing opposition to this movement. Even though Internet services have been reclassified as common carrier services under Title II, the full impact of net neutrality will be several months or years away as we expect Internet providers to file lawsuits to stop it. But now the FCC is working to create a framework to help regulate the Internet.

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