Cable, wireless industries say net-neutrality rules create certainty

“The plain reading of the order, coupled with some regulatory humility, should provide greater certainty than the status quo,” wrote NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow.

He cited a lack of clarity due to court decisions related to net neutrality, which created a “prevailing marketplace condition for the last several years has been one of uncertainty.”

In this context, the rules could help help the economy, according to McSlarrow.

“Against a backdrop of uncertainty mentioned in my answer to question 3, the Order’s plain language minimizes the overhang on investment decisions for new and innovative services that are currently deployed, and thus, if implemented and enforced modestly, should promote continued investment and job creation,” he said. 

McSlarrow said NCTA supports the order because it codifies the status quo, provides certainty and clarification from previous policies, and is preferable to Title II rules, which are more stringent.

“I believe the Order, reached after months of negotiation and compromise, represented a good faith effort on the part of Chairman Genachowski and his staff to accomplish those goals and avoid those risks,” McSlarrow wrote.

Steve Largent, the head of the wireless group CTIA, did not go as far, and did not concede an economic benefit to the rules.

He did, however, say the rules provide certainty. 

“To the extend that issuance of the order removes the specter of having Title II regulation imposed on broadband services, including wireless broadband services, the order provides a level of certainty,” he said. 

The Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing and markup on Wednesday concerning the GOP effort to repeal the rules.