Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, as the chairman said, I served nearly 10 years as a title II rate regulator on the North Dakota Public Service Commission, and I know what title II rate regulation looks like. The Internet is not an appropriate vehicle or medium for this type of regulation. The Internet is not a monopoly railroad, the Internet is not a monopoly telephone company, it is not a monopoly electric or gas utility. The Internet is a dynamic, competitive innovator. Even the threat of this type of regulation stifles that innovation, and we do not want that to happen. I want to address the amendment that was referred to by the ranking member of the subcommittee, who I have great respect for. She referred to the term ``permanent forbearance.'' That is a contradiction in terms. Forbearance is, by definition, temporary. He who has the authority to forebear has the authority to unforebear. That is exactly what her amendment did. That is why it was not adequate to this bill. This legislation simply codifies that which the President of the United States and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission promised: to not regulate rates. If they promised to do it, God bless them. But we don't know that the next Chairman and the next President will live up to that promise. This law ensures that that promise is kept by codifying it.”