The Senate is one vote away from overruling the FCC and restoring net neutrality

[William Gayde]

There are currently fifty senators endorsing legislation to overrule the Federal Communication Commission's recent decision to overturn net neutrality regulations. This amounts to all Democrats, both independents, and Republican Susan Collins from Maine. The measure requires a simple majority to pass, which means just one more Senate Republican will have to vote in favor of it for it to proceed.

This resolution has been brought up under the Congressional Review Act which states that after government agencies make decisions, legislators have up to 60 working days to reverse it if they can achieve a majority. This piece of legislation seeks to overturn the FCC's decision and bar them from passing similar rules in the future. In order for it to take effect, it must also pass the House and be signed by President Trump.

Republicans, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, and industry executives have all argued that previous net neutrality rules were too harsh and were hampering industry growth. Democrats and the majority of the US population opposed this view, arguing that the rules helped protect the internet and keep it fair.

In a statement to the Washington Post, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said “it’s clear that Democrats are committed to fighting to keep the Internet from becoming the Wild West where ISPs are free to offer premium service to only the wealthiest customers while average consumers are left with far inferior options.”

Democrats are planning to focus on net neutrality during the midterm elections. They hope that this will force opposing candidates to choose sides between the majority of their constituents as opposed to telecom lobbyists.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/72786-senate-one-vote-away-overruling-fcc-restoring-net.html

 

[CBTex]

Net Neutrality should have been legislated in the first place, not implemented as a regulation. Even this vote is just to reverse a regulatory agency's decision.

What would be best would be if Democrats and Republicans in congress could ever stop fighting each other long enough to sit down and draft a new piece of legislation that specifically dealt with the internet and net neutrality. The internet is a new phenomenon and needs new laws. Trying to use Title II utility regulations from as far back as 1934 for the internet was never the best solution.

That won't happen though, because they are both more concerned about screaming about how evil the other one is. Talking points, votes and pleasing the donors is more important than legislating good law.

 

[Uncle Al]

The next best thing they could do is unseat Pai and send him packing. He's simply a self serving fool that has been allowed too much power ....

 

[wiyosaya]

The next best thing they could do is unseat Pai and send him packing. He's simply a self serving fool that has been allowed too much power ....

Wow! You are certainly giving Pai a lot of credit. To me, anyway, he is a corporate lawyer goon/clown that has no understanding of technology in the least bit and had been highly paid under the table to promote the interests of corporations over the public.

Yet, I agree. He should be sent packing and barred from all public service in any form in the future!

 

[GeforcerFX]

Hahaha a "majority" of the US population is apparently 1,000 people, had no idea that's all it took to be a majority in a country of 330 million people, guess all those Minorities are now majorities and we can stop treating them all special and what not. I doubt trump would push it through if it got to his desk.

 

[Axiarus]

Hahaha a "majority" of the US population is apparently 1,000 people, had no idea that's all it took to be a majority in a country of 330 million people, guess all those Minorities are now majorities and we can stop treating them all special and what not. I doubt trump would push it through if it got to his desk.

1,000 people is actually a pretty good study size. It means that you can continue to poll more people, but the variance in results will be negligible. Continuing to poll after 1,000 subjects would be a waste of time.

 

[lostinlodos]

And yet nobody has yet shown any fact on paper how this change by the FCC will hurt consumers. Not one solid absolute.
A lot of misconceptions, tons of inaccuracies, and some flat out lies. But not one single fact has been shown that the changes hurt consumers in any way!

 

[cliffordcooley]

1,000 people is actually a pretty good study size. It means that you can continue to poll more people, but the variance in results will be negligible. Continuing to poll after 1,000 subjects would be a waste of time.

1000 people from all 50 states maybe, 500 from low populated areas and 500 from high populated areas. Even then the results would be speculative.

 

[Joe Blow]

So they want to restore Obama-era censorship. Expect nothing less from temper tantrum Democrats.

 

[Impudicus]

Honestly, what the hell do democrats and republicans know about how the Internet works?