Government controls placed on the internet during the Obama administration are steering the United States the wrong way, FCC chairman Ajit Pai said Monday.
During an appearance on Newsmax TV's "The Howie Carr Show," Pai spoke with host Steve Robinson about his hope that the five-person panel he leads will vote down net neutrality rules that prohibit internet providers from restricting speed and accessibility on their customers.
"These internet regulations imposed over the last two years are simply taking us in the wrong direction, and that's why going back to the market-based approach will give these companies of all kinds a much stronger incentive to invest in internet access going forward," Pai said.
Pai, who was nominated by President Donald Trump this year to chair the FCC, said erasing net neutrality will help foster competition.
"Whoever controls the government, the last thing we want is for that person to be picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and that's exactly why we don't want these internet regulations to persist going forward," he said.
Net neutrality stipulates that all data on the internet must be treated the same, meaning providers are not allowed to intentionally slow down connection speeds or restrict access to particular websites or online services.
At the time, some conservative groups and internet service providers derided the FCC for overreach in claiming the internet should not be regulated like a utility.
But a growing number of conservative groups believe that without protections their websites may be subject to traffic squelching by cable and telecom providers who control the internet flow.
Former Congressman Chip Pickering has noted that polls show Americans overwhelming support keeping internet neutrality rules, and a majority of Trump voters back such a position.
Recently major websites such as Netflix, Twitter, Reddit and Tumblr have urged the FCC to not completely end net neutrality.
Pai revealed earlier Monday that his wife and kids are being targeted over his plans to squash net neutrality, which he said "certainly crossed the line with me."
The FCC is slated to vote on Pai's plan Dec. 14.