Paul Introduces Senate CRA Resolution Attacking Net Neutrality
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval attacking the FCC’s net neutrality order Wednesday. Paul posted the one-page resolution, which would dismantle the order and prevent the FCC from reinstating similar regulations, but it faces a likely White House veto and opposition from Hill Democrats. Paul is a presidential candidate, which some have said raises the stakes for net neutrality negotiations on Capitol Hill (see 1504160034).
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
“This regulation by the FCC is a textbook example of Washington’s desire to regulate anything and everything and will do nothing more than wrap the Internet in red-tape,” Paul said in a statement. “The Internet has successfully flourished without the heavy hand of government interference. Stated simply, I do not want to see the government regulating the Internet.”
Paul is the first GOP contender for the White House to offer a specific proposal counteracting the net neutrality order. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., has introduced a companion resolution in the House, with 21 GOP co-sponsors and referred to Commerce.
The Senate resolution has no co-sponsors and is referred to the Commerce Committee, a Paul spokeswoman told us. Paul isn't a Commerce member, but Commerce is where Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., has said he wants to work with Democrats on net neutrality legislation. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told us Monday that he favors the CRA resolution route to address net neutrality (see 1504280045), and Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Roy Blunt, R-Mo., have indicated openness to that route. Several observers told us this illustrates a split in GOP strategy on net neutrality, evident in both the House and Senate, and creates challenges for Thune in negotiating with Democrats on the issue.
Paul believes “the use of the CRA would be enough”​ to address net neutrality legislation, his spokeswoman added, saying she doesn’t believe Paul has fully absorbed all the details of the compromise route.
Thune plans to work with Paul “and other colleagues in the effort to find an achievable alternative to misguided Internet regulations put in place by the FCC,” a committee spokesman for Thune told us of the resolution. Thune has stressed to reporters that he and GOP leadership in the Senate want to move a legislative response that can advance through the chamber and receive a White House signature.
“The FCC’s Open Internet order is an historic victory for consumers, innovators and entrepreneurs -- anyone who counts on the Internet to connect to their community and the world,” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said after the introduction of the CRA resolution. “I will oppose any attempts to undo or undermine these strong net neutrality protections.”
“Senator Paul has no idea what Net Neutrality is,” Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood said in a statement. “Paul says he opposes Net Neutrality because he doesn’t want to regulate the Internet, but these rules do no such thing. … Paul and a few other members of Congress have sided with the phone and cable lobby and against the open Internet. But their campaign against real Net Neutrality is all bluster. Egged on by industry lobbyists, these congresspeople think they can fool people into believing that Net Neutrality threatens investment and innovation in digital networks.” Tech advocacy group Engine also tweeted its ire at Paul: “Hey @RandPaul: if you want millennials/tech to support your Pres ambitions, attacking #NetNeutrality is a bad idea.”