TechBytes

Government regulators prize protecting their political constituencies above realizing all the benefits and gains to consumers that result from encouraging and implementing technology and innovation. 

Like the Texians before them, today’s Texans overwhelmingly believe in free markets, private property, individual liberty and lesser government. HB 20 violates not only these principles but also the free speech protections of both the U.S. and Texas Constitutions.

For the sake of our economy, for the promise of a better quality of life, and greater discovery, we should allow permissionless innovation unless harm can be demonstrated. And even then, such regulation should be minimal and flexible. 

The United States has figured out the innovation equation, while the rest of the world has not: The heavy hand of government does not lead to greater innovation. That’s why tech populism, calling for more aggressive regulation and antitrust activism, is very troubling.

Seeing the Heritage Foundation institutionalize grievance politics and populist anger and demonize an entire industry is a mistake with potentially enormous consequences.

In an attempt to settle political scores with “Big Tech,” some conservatives are suggesting policy changes that would be an unwise tradeoff of past successful conservative policy victories.

Regulators and legislators seem increasingly eager to impose government involvement as soon as an innovation hits the headlines. 

We are long past time when it is humorous for elected officials to admit they do not understand technology but then quickly move to regulate and tax it. For the sake of continued innovation, it is time for this nonsense to stop.

Bridging the digital divide has become an even higher policy priority. But what’s the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars to reach this relatively narrow slice of the American public?

The low-hanging fruit for expanding broadband access is clearing away barriers to deployment. With HB 1505, Texas has taken some significant steps to extend broadband access to the approximately 4 percent of Texans who lack it. Other states should follow the example.