Fight over regulating Internet rates intensifies

Republicans on the House Commerce Committee’s communications subcommittee are expected to advance a bill they say is aimed at making sure the Federal Communications Commission does not use its new rules to regulate and set the monthly rates that Internet service providers charge customers.

Republicans tried and failed to insert the language into a spending bill in 2015. But network neutrality advocates caution the single paragraph bill is overly broad, and is likely a guise to blunt other consumer protections at the FCC. The FCC's rules specifically avoid applying those kind of utility-style rate regulations, through a process known as forbearance. Democrats will offer their own amendment that would codify the FCC's forbearance language. Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) said that the GOP legislation would make sure "no future FCC abuses" its power. The Democratic amendment is meant to call Republicans' bluff on the legislation's "stated goal."

"[I]t was my sincere hope that we would reach agreement on the two net neutrality-related bills under consideration at today’s markup," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-CA). "Unfortunately we have not, despite many hours of staff time, working in consultation with the FCC, academic experts, public interest groups, industry and other key stakeholders for technical guidance."