The New York Times distorted Sean Spicer’s statement supporting the repeal of a Federal Communications Commission broadband rule to argue that the White House next looks to target Net Neutrality regulations despite a lack of evidence supporting that claim.
On Thursday, Press Secretary Sean Spicer released a statement supporting Congress’ Congressional Review Act legislation to undo the FCC’s broadband privacy rule.
A couple follow-ups from yesterday: I know Hunter asked about the House and the Senate passage disapproving of the Federal Communications [Commission’s] regulations on privacy rules from last year. So let me just expand on that a little and get to your question.
The White House supports Congress using its authority under the Congressional Review Act to roll back last year’s FCC rules on broadband regulation. The previous administration, in an attempt to treat Internet service providers differently than edge providers, such as Google and Facebook, reclassified them as common carriers — much like a hotel or another retail outlet — and opened the door to an unfair regulatory framework. This will allow all service providers to be treated fairly and consumer protection and privacy concerns to be reviewed on an equal playing field.
The President pledged to reverse this type of federal overreach in which bureaucrats in Washington take the interests of one group of companies over the interests of others, picking winners and losers.
The President has signed more legislation under the Congressional Review Act, ending job-killing rules and regulations than all previous Presidents combined already, and he will continue to fight Washington red tape that stifles American innovation, job creation and economic growth.
Spicer stated that the president plans to sign legislation repealing the FCC’s broadband regulation and that President Trump will continue to fight against red tape that limits American innovation and job growth. Spicer did not mention any plans to eliminate Net Neutrality, at least in the short-term. President Trump previously tweeted opposition to Net Neutrality, believing it to be another vehicle to target conservative media:
Obama’s attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target conservative media.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2014
Readers of theNew York Times might have a different impression of Spicer’s statement on Thursday. The Times article, “Net Neutrality Is Trump’s Next Target, Administration Says,” fails to link any part of Spicer’s statement on Thursday that the Trump administration plans to target Net Neutrality next. The author’s lede, claiming, “The Trump administration said on Thursday that its next move to roll back the regulation of broadband internet service companies would be to jettison the Obama administration’s net neutrality rules, which were intended to safeguard free expression online,” distorts the Trump administration’s plan to roll back other job-killing regulations in general. Spicer’s statement does not suggest that Net Neutrality is the Trump administration’s next target.
President Trump recently tweeted about the New York Times:
The failing @NYTimes would do much better if they were honest! https://t.co/TWtQcfXfS4
— President Trump (@POTUS) March 28, 2017
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