Net Neutrality, Treasury’s Global Warming Memos and Car-Free Day
The Federal Communications Commission plans to introduce so-called “net neutrality” regulations for ISPs, including wireless companies.
Treasury Department memos estimating the cost of the White House’s global warming policies continue to cause controversy.
Environmental activists gear up to protest automobiles on “World Car-Free Day.”
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.
1. TECHNOLOGY
The Federal Communications Commission plans to introduce so-called “net neutrality” regulations for ISPs, including wireless companies.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Information Policy Analyst Ryan Radia on why regulating wireless industry practices is unnecessary:
“Wireless industry players are disciplined by intense competition. Virtually all U.S. consumers can select from four competing national carriers and dozens of regional carriers. Carriers are investing tens of billions of dollars annually to upgrade their networks to offer faster speeds and better coverage. In the next few years, several carriers are set to launch Long-Term Evolution networks, also known as ‘4G,’ which promise vastly increased speeds and capacities. Price competition among wireless carriers is also cutthroat, as evidenced most recently by Sprint’s ‘Any Mobile’ announcement.”
2. POLITICS
Treasury Department memos estimating the cost of the White House’s global warming policies continue to cause controversy.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Chris Horner on the reaction by “the greens”:
“What has most riled them, indicating that it is what most frightens them, is the internal assessment that the administration expects to raise between $100-200 billion per year from the taxpayer in revenues from selling CO2 ration coupons. Oddly, that’s up to three times how much the administration asserted to the public in February it expected to raise from 100% auctioning, which they said they still expect it to raise, as of three weeks ago, well after the March memo citing the $100-200 billion was written. So much for having abandoned their position of auctioning, which it turns out is still the administration position.”
3. ENVIRONMENT
Environmental activists gear up to protest automobiles on “World Car-Free Day.”
CEI Expert Available to Comment: General Counsel Sam Kazman on why Car-Free Day isn’t for everyone:
“Since so many anti-car activists are young and healthy, it’s no surprise they forget what a car-free world would actually be like. For many people, a car isn’t a luxury – it’s the only way to get to work, transport their kids, or pick up groceries.”
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.