On the recordJuly 21, 2010
I rise today to join my colleague from South Carolina, Senator Jim DeMint, in introducing the Freedom for Consumer Choice Act. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, which would require the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, to prove that consumers are being harmed by the lack of choice before it imposes new regulations. Specifically, the proposed bill would require the FCC to weigh the potential cost of action against any benefits based on a showing of clear and convincing evidence that marketplace competition is not sufficient to adequately protect consumer welfare, and an act or practice is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers. I believe this framework, along with a 5-year sunset on any regulation, would foster a vibrant market for Internet services and content. This legislation is necessary to combat the FCC's latest assault on the Internet.
