According to a recent press release posted by the Small Business& Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) in late February, anonpartisan advocacy, research and education organization focusedon protecting small business and fostering entrepreneurship, "Thevote by three members of the FCC to regulate the Internet witharchaic public utility rules represents everything that Americansand entrepreneurs dislike about Washington."

According to the release, the final regulatory steps weresecretive, in that the contents of Chairman Tom Wheeler's plan werehidden from the public prior to the vote. "Therefore, there was noopportunity to hear the views of ordinary citizens andentrepreneurs."

The release added, "America's Internet has been the new frontierfor innovation and entrepreneurship. Small businesses and theirworkforces have benefited greatly from the broadband Internet andtechnological tools that increase their productivity andcompetitiveness. Vigorous investment and significant risks taken bymany in the private sector created these amazing technologies. Thisinnovation has occurred under light-touch regulation, supported byDemocrats and Republicans over the years, recognizing thatintrusive government action could upend the potential of theInternet."

According to the release, "Treating the Internet as an old-stylepublic utility, with the complex rules, fees, taxes and burdensomered tape that go along with such a regulatory framework, willvastly change the Internet and the pace of new technologies movingforward. Small business owners are not looking forward to thehigher costs these regulations will impose, or the longer waitingperiods for broadband or new competitors to their currentproviders."

An even more recent release by the SBE Council in mid-Marchnoted: "When government regulates as intrusively as the FCC hasdone through its order to regulate the Internet, small businessowners and entrepreneurs always get the short end of the stick. Asinnovators competing against bigger players in providing Internetservice, and as consumers who depend on affordable access toquality broadband, we do not see how regulating the Internet as apublic utility will be a plus for small businesses."

Commissioner Ajit Paj, one of two dissenting voices in the 3-2FCC vote, noted, "Monopoly rules from a monopoly era will move ustoward a monopoly."

The SBE Council release also noted that a Center for RegulatorySolutions survey conducted in 2014 found widespread concern withthe federal regulatory process in general, with 84 percent ofrespondents believing that "too many special interests" control theregulatory process, and 72 percent stating that rules are "createdin a closed secretive process," and in a way that "does notconsider real-world impact."

The release concluded by stating that, "We are supportingefforts by the Congress to conduct vigorous oversight of the FCC'sregulatory process and the final order itself. The six-page draftbill unveiled by House Committee on Energy and Commerce ChairmanFred Upton (R-MI), Senate Committee on Commerce, Science andTransportation Chairman John Thune (R-SD), and House Communicationsand Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) is a finealternative to the FCC's intrusive 300-plus page order toaggressively regulate the Internet. Small business owners andentrepreneurs have come to depend on a responsive, innovative,high-quality Internet. The draft congressional plan will promotestrong investment and support and Internet ecosystem that needs thefreedom and flexibility to innovate and serve its customers well."