Internet governance bill advances, but Democrats wary

The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee approved a bill to support Internet freedom despite Democrats' concern that it could undermine existing laws and regulations.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the subcommittee's chairman, insisted the measure is only a statement of policy and would not repeal any existing rules. "As a matter of law, a statement of policy does not impose statutorily mandated responsibilities on an agency," Chairman Walden said. The bill would make it formal U.S. policy to "promote a global Internet free from government control and to preserve and advance the successful multi-stakeholder model that governs the Internet." But the Democrats expressed concern that a person or company could use the law as a basis to sue to overturn regulations, such as the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality rules, which require Internet providers to treat Web traffic equally. After assurances from Republicans that they would work to revise the bill before a full committee vote, Democrats agreed not to derail the markup with a slew of amendments. The subcommittee approved the bill on a voice vote, with the Democrats dissenting.