Senate Bill Would Exempt Small ISPs From Open Internet Transparency Rules

Sen Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced bipartisan legislation (S 228) that would exempt small internet service providers from transparency requirements under the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet order. The Republican-led FCC has already said it won’t enforce the requirements for small ISPs, and suggested that it would revisit the rules as part of a broader re-examination of the 2015 Open Internet order. But providers want the exemption codified into law. The lack of enforcement could give senators time to work out the bill’s details with Democrats. As of Jan 24, Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) was the only Democratic co-sponsor. The Senate Commerce Committee is not scheduled to vote on the measure, according to an aide to Sen Daines. S 228, would grant broadband providers with fewer than 250,000 subscribers a five-year exemption from FCC requirements that they provide enhanced technical and fee data to consumers. Smaller ISPs say the cost of collecting that data is onerous and would cut disproportionately into their business. The House passed a similar bill by voice vote earlier in January.