Title II hasn’t hurt network investment, according to the ISPs themselves

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The Federal Communications Commission's primary justification for eliminating Title II net neutrality rules is that broadband network investment has tanked since the rules were implemented two years ago.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has cited a few research reports describing declines in capital expenditures, and industry lobbyists have repeatedly argued that investment was harmed by the FCC classifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. But when ISPs talk to their investors, the story is completely different.

"We found that not a single publicly traded US ISP ever told its investors (or the SEC) that Title II negatively impacted its own investments specifically," pro-net neutrality advocacy group Free Press said in a report issued yesterday.

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