Cruz Blasts Title II Reclassification, IANA Transition

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he's a leader in fighting against the FCC Communications Act Title II net neutrality order and the Obama administration’s planned Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition. “Knuckle-headed regulation” has been “strangling small businesses,” Cruz told the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. “The FCC has declared the internet a regulated public utility,” Cruz said. “It’s trying to apply the laws of telecoms to the internet. The phone industry, very heavily regulated, they want to make the internet the same thing.” That reclassification would require industry to seek permission for changes in terms of service and pricing and innovation and is “something I’ve been very active in the Senate leading the fight against,” Cruz argued. The FCC says it has no interest in regulating broadband rates. The internet should be “free of taxes, free of government, keep the government the heck out,” Cruz said, calling the internet an incubator for small businesses. He cited Sept. 30’s importance in the IANA transition, saying it “gives Russia and China a veto over control of the internet” and would allow other countries to do what they do in their own countries and silence voices. “I got to tell you, in my view, that’s nuts,” Cruz said, calling the transition proceeding contrary to the will of Congress. “I can tell you, in the Senate I’m leading the fight to stop the giveaway of the internet, to keep it open and free, which is important for jobs.” Cruz, a Commerce Committee member, invoked his internet policy positions last month in speaking to the Republican National Convention (see 1607210023) and is among GOP senators backing legislation to kill the FCC open internet order (see 1602260064).