Some Democrats Are Ready to Water Down Their Own Net Neutrality Bill

Democratic lawmakers continue to push their new network neutrality bill through Congress, but there’s signs that several members of the party are already eager to water down the proposal. During March 12 hearings on the proposal in the House Communications Subcommittee, some Democratic lawmakers, like Rep Darren Soto (D-FL), stated the bill was simply an “opening offer” and that Democrats would be open to amendments for the bill. Others, like Rep Kurt Schrader (D-OR), insisted that additional “compromise” would be needed to ensure passage. Activists at consumer groups like Fight For the Future said that at this juncture in the net neutrality fight, efforts to compromise will only likely to weaken the popular proposal. “It was frustrating to hear Rep. Soto say he's open to amendments on the Save The Internet Act,” said Fight for the Future’s Josh Tabish. “Given that his office was one of the bill's original co-sponsors, it's hard to view this as anything other than foreshadowing for a back door effort to water down the bill or add ISP-approved loopholes.”