New SBE Council Video: Sound Internet Policy Essential to Innovation and Small Business Growth

By SBE Council at 7 December, 2017, 9:34 am

By Karen Kerrigan-

“Net neutrality.”  “Title II.”  “The Communications Act of 1934.”

These are all important terms in today’s debate about internet regulation.  But to many

small businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers, their meaning and context are unclear.

That’s why this week, SBE Council has released a new video to help explain

this convoluted issue.  We walk through the history of the internet and important

policy shifts to show how we got to where we are today — from 1930s regulation designed

for the old school Ma Bell telephone monopoly, to the 2015 Open Internet Order— i.e.,

“net neutrality rules”—implemented by the Obama Administration.

In addition, we show what’s at stake with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s “Restoring Internet

Freedom” plan, which is set for a vote on December 14.

Watch the video here.

In the last several weeks, Americans have been bombarded with a barrage of

information regarding net neutrality.  And more often than not, the information is

misleading and inaccurate. The reality is that these complex regulations have restricted

investment and innovation, and have imposed more costs and uncertainty upon U.S. small

businesses. Small ISPs are disproportionately burdened by the intrusive rules, which means

competition and access to broadband – especially in underserved and rural areas of the country – have deeply

suffered.

The debate over net neutrality will get more heated and polarized as we approach the

FCC vote.  SBE Council believes that under FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal, we are on the way

to a regulatory framework that gives American small businesses and entrepreneurs

more flexibility and freedom, and more space and opportunity to bring the internet

to a new level of innovation.

Check out our new video, and learn more about how we’re on our way to a better and more accessible internet for

all small businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers.

Related content: SBE Council’s latest blog post “4 Reasons Why Restoring Internet Freedom is Good for Entrepreneurship and Small Business.”

Karen Kerrigan is president & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.