FCC, May I Please Innovate?

[Commentary] Despite the once-unimaginable benefits of our tech economy, the future of innovation in America is being threatened by the federal government’s desire for ever-expanding control and regulation. Outrageously, recent decisions, especially at the Federal Communications Commission, are threatening the “permissionless innovation” culture that fostered a digital revolution and created hundreds of thousands new high paying American jobs. So we were disturbed to see the concept of permissionless innovation abused and distorted as a rationale for sweeping and vague network neutrality rules that, as a practical matter, now require any cutting-edge, new offering by a broadband provider to get at least the tacit approval of the FCC.

The Commission’s recent requests for meetings with T-Mobile, AT&T and Comcast to explore details of their latest service plans in the context of the new rules is a perfect example of the “Mother, May I?” dynamic that has been established. It seems that we are headed down an uncharted path of overregulating this dynamic industry, which will kill job creation and hinder future technology advancements. The Internet is a great laboratory for innovation. If we want to see what the next Uber, Facebook or iPhone looks like, Congress and the FCC must return to the hands-off approach that has succeeded for decades and let the innovators do what they do best: innovate.


FCC, May I Please Innovate?