Such net neutrality legislation would not only kill the deployment of broadband connections, but would prohibit Internet service providers from managing their networks, which brings us back to the Christian Coalition of America, the newest member of the pro-net neutrality forces. During the hearing, the Christian Coalition accused broadband providers of China-like tactics to censor speech over the Internet. However, the fact is that the FCC already has rules prohibiting the blocking or delaying of email or text messages.
More importantly, net neutrality regulation would strip away the ability of broadband providers to stop child pornography, obscenity, and other dangerous content on the web from reaching our children. Parents are demanding family-friendly Internet filters and other controls to protect their children. Without effective controls available to families, schools, libraries and anywhere else children can access Internet content, it would take only one wrong click or one curious search to reach pornography, information on drugs, violent content or even child predators.
In a letter to Members of Congress, a group of prominent social and economic conservatives, including Gary Bauer of American Values, David Keene of the American Conservative Union, Larry Cirignano of Catholic Vote.org and Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, wrote: “It is critically important for parents and broadband service providers to continue to have these tools available to them because despite what network neutrality proponents may say, all content on the web is not equal and should not be treated equally.”
One of the most serious consequences of net neutrality is the subtle but frightening erosion of a parent’s ability to safeguard their child’s experience on the Internet. Rather than improving Internet service, net neutrality regulation would hurt our economy and our families.