Agenda for the 116th Congress: Bring Back Consumer Protection and a Fair Marketplace

There is a new political reality in Washington. A Democratic Party takeover of the House of Representatives has created divided government again. We can only hope that the newly divided government can create the space for clear action to meet our challenges. Both parties are now truly responsible for governing, and although many of the moderates have retired or been defeated, the needs for protection-creating policymaking is felt equally in the most conservative and liberal districts. There’s also hope that the influx of new members brings a class of younger, tech-savvy legislators. Members of Congress are elected based on a broad range of issues and so while Congress must act, it cannot always act both quickly and in great detail. Delegation to expert agencies has traditionally assisted with this challenge and is essential to keep up with the pace of innovation. Perhaps the greatest challenge to seeing movement on these issues is the short legislative calendar and the pull of other priorities, from renewed fights around healthcare to investigations of the Trump Administration. To overcome this, everyday Americans will need to become more engaged in the details and the advocacy around tech and communications policy. Another two years of weakening protections and inactive legislators will only enable consumer ripoffs to flourish. Now is the time for Congress to revive consumer protection and marketplace fairness through legislation and FCC oversight.