Snow Put Hitch in Initial Capitol Hill Net Neutrality Briefings
Snowy weather derailed the schedule of private net neutrality stakeholder sessions that Capitol Hill Republicans planned to hold in Washington last week, multiple people familiar with the sessions told us. Top staffers for Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D.,…
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House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., had planned to brief industry lobbyists on the draft net neutrality legislation that their bosses circulated in January and discuss its path forward as well as the FCC's net neutrality order (see 1502270050). They scheduled at least five sessions and at least two did happen as planned earlier in the week, one Senate staffer told us. Two of the meetings that happened included representatives from the tech companies and the competitive carriers, the staffer said. Meetings later in the week were postponed. These GOP lawmakers have said they want bipartisan negotiation and backing for the legislation -- which would codify net neutrality protections in exchange for limiting FCC authority -- but no Democrats have yet backed the draft bill. Democratic staffers were also invited to these sessions. Lawmakers called off much of the activity slated for Thursday and Friday last week due to the weather. Thune had said in February that he wanted to hold these private listening sessions as part of his commitment to advancing legislation following the FCC’s Feb. 26 net neutrality vote.