WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- A broad coalition of free-market conservative organizations today called on House Republicans to reject regulating the Internet with "network neutrality" regulations. A vote is expected Wednesday or Thursday on Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton's video-services bill, and the so-called "net neutrality" regulations favored by Democratic leaders and MoveOn.org are expected to be offered as amendments on the floor.

The Internet Freedom Coalition, a loose-knit group of like-minded free- market, limited government non-profit associations, individuals and think- tanks, also reminded Congress that despite an expensive, well-orchestrated campaign from liberal rock stars, actors and other prominent liberals, there remains resolute solidarity among conservatives and free-market experts that regulating the Internet with a net neutrality regulatory scheme is a bad idea.

"The ultra-left has yet to see innovation-stifling regulation it doesn't like, and net neutrality is no exception," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, an IFC founding member. "Not only is net neutrality Internet regulation, but it flies in the face of Internet providers' property rights."

"In today's climate, you don't often see such agreement among free-market conservatives," said Jason Wright, IFC co-founder and president of the Institute for Liberty. "But when it comes to Congress approving net neutrality regulations and killing incentive and innovation, our side is remarkably united. Net neutrality is dangerous industrial policy."

Wright added that on every occasion net neutrality has faced a committee vote, it's never garnered significant Republican support. "A majority of the Republican majority has consistently rejected regulating the Internet. These regulations are being driven by command and control liberals," said Wright.

"Net neutrality would be the first step down the dangerous path of Internet regulation," said Tom Readmond, executive director of Americans for Tax Reform's Media Freedom Project. "This would be a u-turn from the 'hands off' approach to the Internet that has allowed an explosion of innovation for more than a decade."

IFC noted that there is universal opposition to a government regulated Internet in the free-market community. In addition to IFC's own membership which includes Americans for Tax Reform, Frontiers of Freedom and National Taxpayers Union, government-defined net neutrality is opposed by The Heritage Foundation, CATO, Progress and Freedom Foundation, The Competitive Enterprise Institute, Freedom Works, and, to IFC's knowledge, every other free-market economic and limited government association and think-tank in the country.

CONTACT: Jason Wright of Institute for Liberty, Internet Freedom
Coalition, +1-703-310-6015; or Grover Norquist, +1-202-785-0266, or Tom
Readmond, Media Freedom Project, +1-202-785-0266, both of Americans for Tax
Reform

• Cloud Neutrality