GOP fault lines form in Web fight

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Some House Republicans are refusing to fully endorse a compromise on network neutrality floated by their party’s committee chairmen. While not ruling out future support for the draft bill, many in the party are pushing a hard-line approach to undo the Federal Communications Commission’s newly approved rules straight away.

“Now, I still am one of those that says, as far as I’m concerned, we should just take a hands off policy,” Rep Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said. “The Internet does not need the intervention of the FCC, so let’s nail that down first, and then let’s decide if it needs any other assistance or oversight or rules put in place by Congress.”

Any congressional action on net neutrality faces long odds of ever being enacted. The proposals to block the FCC rules without a replacement would almost certainly run into a presidential veto. A less partisan push hinges on finding Democratic support, but further compromise could alienate other Republicans. Rep Blackburn is pushing a proposal to cut off the full power and effect of the new FCC rules to reclassify broadband Internet as a telecommunications service in order to enforce strong rules. Thirty-one Republicans have signed on, including many on the House Commerce Committee.

A separate group of Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, including Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), are pressing their colleagues to block the rules using the Congressional Review Act, which empowers Congress to vote to cancel new federal regulations through a resolution of disapproval.


GOP fault lines form in Web fight