Capitol Hill Delivers Closing Arguments Ahead of FCC Net Neutrality Vote
Capitol Hill lawmakers delivered their final arguments Wednesday on the FCC's planned Thursday vote to rescind 2015 net neutrality rules. House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., led a letter from more than 100 House Republicans urging the FCC to move forward. “This proposal is a major step forward in the effort to clear the way for the substantial investment necessary to advance our Internet architecture for the next generation and close the digital divide,” they said. “When its effects are fully realized, more Americans than ever will experience the benefits of telemedicine, distance learning, streaming video, and future innovations made possible by broadband.”
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spoke on the floor Wednesday in support of repeal. "When the FCC votes tomorrow, they will be voting to return the internet to a consumer-driven marketplace free of innovation-stifling regulations," he said. "Opponents of [Pai's] plan have expressed their concerns about unfair or disruptive business practices that may hurt consumers’ access to the Internet. However, his proposal will actually restore the [FTC's] authority to protect consumers and police companies that engage in unfair practices.
Several Senate Democrats also spoke on the floor Wednesday in support of the 2015 rules, with Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., leading the charge. The FCC is on the verge of sending a “love letter to the big broadband companies,” Markey said. “They are going to slow down what is one of the best parts of our economy,” Cantwell said. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., called the FCC's 2015 vote on the current rules a highlight of his Senate career and an example of “democracy in action.” The agency's plan to rescind those rules is a “dangerous proposal,” Franken said. Sens Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., faulted FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for what they view as a less than transparent process for evaluating the rescission proposal. Pai “has failed to heed his own advice” on transparency in the proceeding, Leahy said.
House Communications ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., sent his anticipated letter in opposition to rescission with the signatures of 117 other House Democrats. The letter, which Doyle began circulating in late November, urges Pai to delay the vote (see 1712010045). Other signatories include House Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J. Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and 32 other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent a letter to Pai Tuesday opposing repeal. “This proposal leaves Internet users vulnerable to harmful conduct by ISPs, and indicates that the FCC trusts [ISPs] not to exploit their customers” despite evidence that before the 2015 rules they “throttled access to websites, blocked content, and rigged the market in their favor,” the lawmakers said. “Without net neutrality protections in place, ISPs will almost certainly revert to their old conduct.”
The FCC formally denied Wednesday a request by Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., to speak at the Thursday meeting before the commission votes on rescission. The FCC has at past open meetings “heard from outside entities before taking important votes,” McNerney said Tuesday in a letter to Pai. “I hope that you will adhere to this precedent.” Pai “has disregarded this precedent” and denied McNerney's request, his office said Wednesday: “I’m very disappointed.” Pai denied the request and “my previous request to speak with him one-on-one prior to the vote on the elimination of net neutrality protections,” McNerney said. “Even more distressing is the fact that I am not alone. [Pai] has refused to speak with members from both sides of the aisle regarding the drastic action the Commission is about to take tomorrow.”
Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., tweeted he's “still awaiting a response to my letter yesterday” in opposition to the rescission proposal (see 1712120037). “My staff has called your @FCC office and received no answer,” Coffman said. “Wonder why people are a bit upset?” The FCC didn't comment.
Other net neutrality news Wednesday: on the FCC's proposal (see 1712130053), state attorneys general (see 1712130051), on how Disney possibly buying Fox may affect the debate (see 1712130010), on net neutrality rule backer Doug Jones' election as Alabama Democratic senator (see 1712130001), and on the issue in Europe (se 1712120001).