President Obama’s call for the Federal Communications Commission to pass net neutrality rules by reclassifying broadband as a regulated public utility is a bad idea that could raise broadband prices by 16 percent or more, a parade of Republican politicians and conservative activists said Friday.

Reclassifying broadband as a regulated common carrier under Title II of the Communications Act would expose broadband services to a 16 percent telecom service fee that supports the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, said several speakers at net neutrality discussion hosted by the antiregulation think tank Free State Foundation.

Title II regulation would open up broadband to several new regulations, including USF fees and state and local telecom taxes, speakers at the event said. “Consumers of these services would face an immediate increase in their bills,” said Republican FCC member Michael O’Rielly.

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