Fact Sheet on National Security and Public Safety Impacts of Restoring Broadband Oversight

Currently, no federal agency can effectively monitor or address broadband outages that threaten jobs, education, and public safety. And while the Federal Communications Commission has acted on a bipartisan basis to secure our communications networks against companies controlled by hostile foreign governments, the lack of specific authority over broadband leaves open a national security loophole. Reclassifying internet access as a Title II service would allow the FCC to require broadband providers to report and address internet outages, like the FCC does for voice service today, and ensure that response personnel know when service is impacted, especially during emergencies. Reclassification would also allow the FCC to deny companies controlled by hostile foreign governments access to our broadband networks. In its remand of the FCC’s decision to roll back net neutrality, the DC Circuit Court found the agency’s “disregard of its duty to analyze the impact of the public safety renders its decision arbitrary and capricious.” Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel agrees and her proposal, if adopted by the FCC, would kick start the process to rectify this abdication of national security and public safety oversight.