Marco Rubio on Net Neutrality: ‘This Is a Solution in Search of a Problem’

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio has spoken out against the government’s regulation of the Internet through net neutrality in a video message Breitbart Tech can exclusively share with readers.

When asked whether he supports a larger or smaller role in the federal government regulating the internet, Rubio replied, “No, I don’t want the government regulating the internet.”

“What problem are they trying to fix?” he continued. “What is government regulation going to do to fix the Internet?”

“This is a solution in search of a problem. That’s what it is. There’s no problem here,” Rubio stated. “By the way, I’m surprised the father of the Internet, the creator of the Internet, Al Gore, has not said anything about this,” he joked with his audience.

“I believe in a free Internet. I believe in a free Internet that is not regulated by government,” he reaffirmed.

When asked about the Obama administration’s designation of the Internet as a publicly utility, Rubio stated, “It is not a public utility,” and said he would roll back FCC policies in that regard if elected president.

https://youtu.be/CjxSnJdw6iA

Rubio joins fellow GOP presidential hopefuls Sen. Rand Paul, Carly Fiorina, and Gov. Chris Christie in speaking out against net neutrality in videos recorded for the nonprofit organization Protect Internet Freedom.

Protect Internet Freedom, which boasts 1.6 million members, told Breitbart Tech: “We believe a unanimous consensus on the importance of protecting real Internet freedom, unfettered by government interference, sends a powerful message that we won’t stand by and allow Washington to turn the vibrant empowering Internet into a neutered government agency.”

Jerri Ann Henry, Public Advocate for PIF, added: “I am so encouraged to see our candidates address this crucial issue. Protecting the First Amendment is one of the most important issues a president will face — it transcends almost every other issue.”

“The FCC’s heavy handed move to regulate the Internet threatens free speech and it is imperative we take steps to ensure future generations have the ability to speak freely and exercise rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution,” she stated.

Noah Dulis is the Deputy Managing Editor of Breitbart News and co-editor of Breitbart Tech. Follow him on Twitter @Marshal_Dov.