Pelosi Says She Won’t Stall Broadband Reclassification
Legislation blocking the FCC from reclassifying broadband “is not going to be a Democratic initiative,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. In a conference call with bloggers Tuesday, she dismissed some Democrats’ objections to FCC reclassification of broadband transport under Title II of the Communications Act. Meanwhile, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., told us he hopes to address colleagues’ concerns by having net neutrality legislation this year.
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A majority of the House, 249 members, have signed letters opposing reclassification. The tally includes Democratic Reps. John Dingell, Mich., Bobby Rush, Ill., Ed Towns, N.Y., and 73 others. But Pelosi said she won’t put legislation stopping the FCC on the House floor: “I don’t know how many options [Democratic opponents] have unless they choose to [work] with the Republicans."
Reclassification, net neutrality and “universal access for every American “is a priority for us and we see it not in isolation, but as part … of a new prosperity -- a job creator, making America healthier, and smarter, and more competitive internationally,” Pelosi said. The large number of concerns shows “that we really need to, and the tech community needs to, do a better job of educating members about this issue,” she said. Reclassification is about “making sure that the FCC has the limited authority it needs to implement key components of the National Broadband Plan, such as public safety, privacy, and rural broadband service.”
Boucher has talked to several of the members who signed letters opposing reclassification, the subcommittee chairman told us Wednesday. “I am very hopeful” the conversations “will lead to our passage of legislation that will establish a narrow set of precise requirements to achieve and maintain network openness,” he said. The legislation “would empower the FCC to enforce those narrowly tailored rules,” he said. Boucher said he’s confident that the reclassification foes in the House he talked to would support adoption of such a bill, and he hopes to finish the legislation this year, he said. Whether the commission reclassifies broadband before then is “in the hands” of the FCC, he said.
Free Press applauded Pelosi. “It is essential that the FCC have the necessary authority to implement its National Broadband Plan, and ensure that rural, disabled and low-income Americans have access to high-speed Internet,” said Free Press President Josh Silver. “We're pleased to hear that the Speaker will not support efforts from any Democratic legislators to stall or prevent these policies from taking shape.”