TIA's Belcher: The current Internet regulatory system isn't broken

A top executive from the Telecom Industry Association (TIA) says that the regulatory system that governs the Internet does not need to be fixed and the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality rules will put a damper on new investments. Scott Belcher, CEO of the TIA, said that after the FCC's previous attempt to regulate the Internet failed in 2010, service providers have made investments to improve speeds and the user experience. "The current system isn't broken -- it's working," Belcher said. "If you look at what's happened since 2010, which was the last time the FCC tried to regulate, the speeds have increased by 250 percent and that does not sound like a broken system to me." Belcher cited how Verizon spent $24 billion to build out its FiOS fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), a move it could not have made in an uncertain regulatory environment. "Verizon could not have done that if they were worried about the system and how they would be regulated," Belcher said, adding that "the FCC's order will result in a decrease in investment."