WASHINGTON, DC - Republican members, including every Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology and every Republican member of the House Small Business Committee, today wrote to the Federal Communications Commission requesting a permanent exemption from the open Internet order’s enhanced transparency requirements for small businesses. When adopting the rules earlier this year, the commission voted to provide a temporary exemption for small businesses. The members today requested that the commission make that exemption permanent.
“During the Open Internet proceeding, the FCC heard from small businesses regarding the impact of the FCC’s enhanced transparency requirements. In its Order, the Commission rightly recognized that small businesses are uniquely situated and granted small businesses a temporary exemption from the requirements. We applaud the Commission’s action in granting this temporary exemption and urge you to make it permanent," wrote the members.
They continued, “Small businesses serve as the backbone of the United States economy. In fact, small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employers in the United States, create 63 percent of net new private-sector jobs, and create more than half of private, non-farm gross domestic product. These companies are the true ‘job creators,’ consistently responsible for 60% to 80% of net new jobs in each of the past 10 years. … Given the stakes for America’s small businesses, the FCC was right to exercise caution and grant the temporary exemption. Now is the time to recognize the disproportionate impact that the requirements would have on these ISPs and their customers and make the exemption permanent. Additionally, the commission should grant the exemption to all small businesses that meet the definitions previously set by the [Small Business Administration]."
The letter was signed by:
* Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI)
* Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH)
* Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR)
* Communications and Technology Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH)
* Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (TX)
* Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
* Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
* House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA)
* Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ)
* Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
* Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
* Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
* Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
* Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
* Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)
* Rep. Billy Long (R-MO)
* Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC)
* Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY)
* Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
* Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)
* Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX)
* Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
* Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC)
* Rep. Steve King (R-IA)
* Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
* Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY)
* Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS)
* Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY)
* Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA)
* Del. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-America Samoa)
* Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA)
* Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL)
* Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL)
* Rep. Cresent Hardy (R-NV)
* Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS)
