The slippery slope of FCC Internet regulation

[Commentary] Silicon Valley, take note. On August 8, the Federal Communications Commission started regulating mobile apps -- and this government foray into the app space should be of concern to tech entrepreneurs as the debate over how best to ensure the open internet continues.

CTIA-The Wireless Association and its members certainly support text-to-911 solutions, but the expansion of regulatory mandates deeper into the mobile ecosystem should give us all pause.

Digital innovators across the country should take heed of this cautionary tale of expansive FCC regulation. The development should inform all of us in our consideration of the open Internet debate, where we must be wary of the slippery slope of regulatory intrusion into every aspect of the mobile broadband ecosystem -- including apps, software, and other services.

Onerous additional regulations that don’t recognize the technical and operational challenges of mobility would undercut investment and give rise to great uncertainty -- and in the process, hamper innovation.

[Baker is president and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association]