Senate Democrats are hoping to use the Congressional Review Act to quickly overturn the Federal Communications Commissions’ move.
The top Democrat in the US Senate said on Friday he would force a
vote on the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to
repeal the 2015 landmark net neutrality rules.
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said he would force a vote on
the FCC action under the Congressional Review Act. Republicans
scuttled internet privacy rules adopted by the FCC under the
Obama administration using the same procedural vehicle.
« There will be a vote to repeal the rule that the FCC passed.
It’s in our power to do that, » Schumer said in New York.
« Sometimes we don’t like them, when they used it to repeal some
of the pro-environmental regulations, but now we can use the CRA
to our benefit and we intend to. »
This week’s FCC order grants internet providers sweeping new
powers to block, throttle, or discriminate among internet
content, but requires public disclosure of those practices.
Internet providers have vowed not to change how consumers get
online content. The FCC rules also seek to bar states from
imposing their own net neutrality requirements.
The FCC said Monday the rules will take effect once the White
House Office of Management and Budget approves the new
transparency rules, which could take several months.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday in a Fox News interview that
« so much of the hysteria is simply misplaced. » He added: « Going
forward, the internet is going to speed up. »
Republicans on Capitol Hill have largely praised the rollback of
the rules. Many want Congress to pass legislation that would
retain consumer protections but prevent future regulators from
adopting internet pricing rules or other actions.
