Statement on FTC-Related House Committee on Energy & Commerce Bills

Washington, DC – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issued the following statement on the suite of Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-related bills introduced by the House Energy & Commerce subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade:

“The Internet industry welcomes the introduction of the Consumer Review Fairness Act, the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (BOTS Act), and the suite of bills modernizing current practice and standards applied by the FTC in consumer protection cases.

“The Consumer Review Fairness Act will create a strong national standard protecting freedom of speech online that is fundamental to the success of the Internet. Meritless lawsuits filed for the sole purpose of intimidating consumers and stifling public debate must be addressed by Congress.

“The BOTS Act marks an important step in protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive practices online. Beyond the BOTS Act, the Internet Association encourages Congress and the FTC to look into additional ways to empower consumers by promoting much needed competition in the online ticketing market.

“Lastly, the suite of bills modernizing current practice and standards applied by the FTC in consumer protection cases is an important conversation starter between the agency and Congress.  The Internet industry has great respect for the enforcement and policy work done by the FTC, but there is always room for improvement and increased transparency in existing agency processes. In particular, the Technological Innovation through Modernizing Enforcement (TIME) Act placing an eight-year limit on FTC consent decrees marks an important step in the right direction for companies in fast-paced and rapidly evolving technology markets.”

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