Overreaching CRA Would Hurt New Jersey Small Businesses

Representative Tom MacArthur should take a stand for our state’s small businesses, non-profits, and associations by opposing the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Congress should instead pass a lasting, permanent solution that cements online consumer protections into law while preserving the spirit of innovation and growth that has come to define the internet.

The CRA being heralded by some in Congress would prescribe outdated regulations written for the telephone industry of the 1930s—well before area codes even existed—for today’s 21st century internet. The last time these regulations were in place, internet investment dropped for the first time in our country’s history independent of an economic recession. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, then this CRA is truly insane.

Having worked closely with many of New Jersey’s top professional associations and non-profits—and as a small-business owner myself—I’ve seen firsthand how overreaching government policies can negatively impact the local business community. We should be encouraging investment in and expansion of broadband in America to strengthen and empower New Jersey businesses. This CRA would do just the opposite.

No one disagrees that net neutrality is important and that we should be doing more to protect consumers on the internet. However, this CRA is the wrong approach, and it would not address the full range of issues consumers face online, including data privacy and security. We need a thoughtful, commonsense legislative approach that both protects consumers and ensures the internet remains free from government interference.