NGLCC Urges House Subcommittee to Protect Internet Freedom by Opposing H.R. 5353

Contact:  Kate Karasmeighan   202.419.0440 (office)  

For Immediate Release

(May 6, 2008) Yesterday the leadership of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) urged leaders of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet not to support H.R. 5353, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act. “The name itself is deceiving, said NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson. “This legislation would do exactly the opposite of preserving freedom of the internet.”

In a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA), Vice Chair Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Ranking Member Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Nelson and NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell wrote, “The severe regulations that would result from H.R. 5353, which undoubtedly puts the Federal Government on the road to internet regulation, would be detrimental to consumers and businesses alike. The Internet’s success can be attributed to providers’ freedom to compete and bring their customers innovative services. If Congress and the FCC micromanage service providers, there will be fewer incentives for them to develop new applications and increase broadband speeds. As high volumes of Internet traffic and data-heavy functions eat up bandwidth, efforts to hamstring providers’ abilities to manage their networks are illogical and irresponsible. While some may believe that this bill merely conducts a study on the broadband marketplace, it will instead launch a chain reaction ultimately leaving consumers paying higher fees for degraded Internet service.”

“Congress should be looking for ways to further reduce the burdens of expanding bandwidth, rather than initiating studies that will undoubtedly lead to unneeded government regulations,” said Mitchell.


About the NGLCC:
The NGLCC represents the interests of the estimated 1.4 million LGBT owned businesses in the United States. Through its affiliated network of 45 state and local chambers and business organizations, the NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the country.