Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) has been vocal in his denunciation of Internet regulation.
"Don’t mess with the Internet," Cruz said. "The worst thing that could happen is letting a whole bunch of politicians come in and regulate every aspect of what you’re doing."
These comments come in response to President Obama’s efforts to classify the Internet as a public utility, thus making it subject to government regulation.
Cruz described how limited regulation of the Internet led to unfettered innovation, and created a dynamic service made better through the freedom to develop without government regulation.
The iPhone was Cruz’s primary example of innovation occurring without government regulation. Such a stunning piece of technology provides consumers with useful applications and information. Applications have also spurred businesses such as Uber and Lyft to challenge taxi commissions that have not developed any consumer improvements in decades.
Cruz said that when government regulation is imposed on innovation, "it calcifies; freezes in place."