CEI Joins Coalition Letter Opposing BRIDGE Act
Dear Senators,
We, the undersigned organizations representing millions of taxpayers and consumers across the nation, ask you to oppose the BRIDGE Act as introduced by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Angus King (I-Maine). The bill would increase the size and scope of the federal government for broadband deployment, while limiting the constitutionally delegated power of states. Any lawmaker who values limited government and the free market should stand up against this proposal.
Internet speeds have been getting faster and more affordable across the nation. The surest way to risk stifling innovation and suppressing investment is with the rate regulations contained in this legislation. Forcing companies to provide a high-quality service for a government mandated low price will decrease supply, as it will become far less affordable for companies to do so. It will also disincentivize the type of risk that has led to some of the greatest innovations in the country. Rate regulation in this – or any other – industry ignores the fundamentals of the free market.
Whether or not localities may create their own government-run networks is an issue that should be left to state and municipal governments. However, the BRIDGE Act pre-empts state laws that prohibit municipal broadband networks. Because these networks represent locally built infrastructure, they are creatures of state, not federal law. Attempting to dictate local construction policies is nothing short of an unconstitutional overreach from Congress. The federal government should not interfere with local policy in this way.
While the intent to deliver high speed service to unserved areas to close the digital divide is a noble one, the BRIDGE Act would fail to meet even that need. The bill only actually mandates 50 percent of its disbursements be used for unserved areas. The rest is designated for areas that might have high speed internet, but whose upload and download speeds aren’t symmetrical. To give any sort of priority to these areas over the unserved ones is a gross oversight and will leave in place the same inequalities that already existed.
The bill will also create confusion for private networks that are not run by the government at the municipal level. It requires a standard of speed for all new networks, but allows states to put requirements on top of it. This will create a patchwork of regulations that will be impossible to comply with in any affordable manner. The irony is that the BRIDGE Act allows states to regulate national networks, but prohibits them from setting reasonable guidelines when it comes to networks built exclusively within their borders. It fundamentally misunderstands the Constitution and our federalist system.
For these reasons, and more, we urge you to oppose the BRIDGE Act. Closing the digital divide is a worthy goal and we hope you will pursue solutions that empower the free market to innovate and provide high-speed service.
Sincerely,
David Williams President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Andrew Langer President
Institute for Liberty
Phil Kerpen President
American Commitment
Grover Norquist President
Americans for Tax Reform
Brandon Arnold Executive VP
National Taxpayers Union
Garrett Bess Vice President
Heritage Action for America
Jessica Melugin
Director, Center for Technology and Innovation
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Tom Schatz President
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Katie McAuliffe Executive Director Digital Liberty
Annette Thompson Meeks CEO
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Paul Gessing President
Rio Grande Foundation
Mike Stenhouse CEO
Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Jim Waters President/CEO
Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions
Brian Balfour
Senior VP of Research John Locke Foundation
Adam Brandon President FreedomWorks
Gerard Scimeca Vice President CASE
Jeffrey Mazzella President
Center for Individual Freedom
Andrea Castillo O’Sullivan
Director, Center for Technology and Innovation
The James Madison Institute
Michael Melendez
Vice President of Policy and Strategy Libertas Institute
Bartlett Cleland Executive Director
Innovation Economy Alliance
Heather R. Higgins CEO
Independent Women’s Voice
Ellen Weaver President/CEO
Palmetto Promise Institute
Mario H. Lopez President
Hispanic Leadership Fund