Why Does AT & T Want Net Neutrality Regulation?

Regulation is often portrayed as the use of government authority to alter market outcomes away from the interests of firms and toward those of consumers and employees.   In turn, the “story” associated with deregulationistheopposite: Corporations and the powerful use their influence to eliminate public sector controls on their conduct at the expense of consumers and employees.But if the usual narrative is true how do we explain afull-page ad that AT&T recently published in multiple newspapers, including theWashington Post and theNew York Times, calling on Congress to pass new legislation to guarantee internet neutrality?  The short answer is that existing companies often favor regulation that reduces competition in ways not well understood by consumers or legislators.   AT&T, one of the nation ’s largest ISPs and a company that recentlydedicated significant resources to support the FCC ’s recent repeal of Title II net neutrality regulations, seems like an unlikely proponent of net neutrality legislation. But its position on the policy highlights why companies sometimes support regulations that would appear to harm them.AT&T ’sopposition to Title II net neutrality regulations is not based on a general hostility towards all regulations, but instead stems from the specific types of rules that Title II regulations would impose. Title II of the Federal Communications act of 1934 was originally intended to regulate telephone companies, and gave the government the abil...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs