New Bill Would Block ISP Rate Regulations

The House Communications Subcommittee will try to revive an effort through a new bill, the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act (HR 2666), to would prevent the Federal Communications Commission from using its new Open Internet rules to impose rate regulations on Internet service providers (ISPs). That is one of four bills the subcommittee will consider at a Jan 12 hearing to kick off the new year. A similar provision was initially targeted to ride the omnibus spending bill into law, but did not make it as a rider on the final bill that passed at the 11th hour in Dec.

The bill is essentially only one paragraph, as follows: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Communications Commission may not regulate the rates charged for broadband Internet access service." Reviving the bill is sponsor Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). "The FCC’s Open Internet Order reclassified broadband under Title II, giving the FCC the ability to regulate rates in two distinct ways: tariffing and through declarations of what are 'reasonable' rates," Republican subcommittee leadership said in announcing the legislative hearing. The bill would make sure that the FCC couldn’t' regulate broadband rates--as it does some cable rates--by ensuring the prohibition in statute.