When uncontrolled political powers want regulatory reform

[Commentary] What happens when political powers go out of their way to influence what is supposed to be an independent regulatory process? Simply put, you find yourself sitting on research and analyses that cannot possibly inform, but rather can only conform to, the already-made regulations and their political motivations. This is exactly what appears to have happened to the Open Internet Order: the White House pushed for the Federal Communications Commission to implement the “strongest possible rules” on broadband providers, and the resulting order came out “threadbare and conclusory throughout.” But America is not alone. A look to New Zealand shows Americans what they are in for in the coming months and years.

[Howell is general manager for the New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation]