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The tech world is gearing up for a showdown over the Obama-era network neutrality rules. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai's plan could scrap that provision in exchange for companies voluntarily promising to uphold net neutrality principles. But consumer groups and Democratic lawmakers are fighting to save the rules, which they say prevent companies from playing favorites with websites and online content.

“I am going to be a part of that effort to make sure that this is a huge national debate,” Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) said. “There is going to be a national outcry when the Federal Communications Commission announces a plan to eliminate net neutrality as America’s communications policy. I think that they’re going to have a response unlike anything they’ve ever seen.” "People are increasingly engaged on consumer issues on the internet, and the coalition that was in favor of net neutrality is now reenergized,” said Sen Brian Schatz (D-HI).

Rhode Island and Delaware have the fastest internet speeds in the country, according to a new analysis from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The two states boasted mean internet speeds of 16.9 megabits per second (Mbps) and 16.5 Mbps, respectively. Both are over 2 Mbps over the 2015 national average of 14.6 Mbps, which saw an increase from the 2015 national average of 11.8 Mbps. At the opposite end, Kentucky and Idaho had the slowest internet speeds at 10.7 Mbps and 10.4 Mbps, respectively. The trade group's full analysis, dubbed the Innovation Scorecard, includes a comprehensive set of measures to assess how states are progressing with technology and how friendly they are to innovation.

Sens Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) praised the Federal Communication Commission’s efforts to expand broadband access to rural America but expressed concern about high internet costs that these communities are facing. In a bipartisan letter spearheaded by the two senators and signed by 54 of their colleagues, they noted that their constituencies are facing higher prices for telephone and internet bundles when many only want internet service. “We are still hearing frustration about the prices for and the availability of standalone broadband,” the senators wrote. “Many operators remain unable or unwilling to offer such broadband because their prices would still be unreasonably high even after the reforms. Other operators may offer standalone broadband, but the costs they are forced to recover from rural consumers far exceed what urban consumers would pay for the same service,” they continued.

The Federal Communications Commission moved to end its push to allow people to use cellphones on flights. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called for killing an abandoned 2013 proposal to relax the agency’s rules about the use of cellphones on flights. “I stand with airline pilots, flight attendants, and America’s flying public against the FCC’s ill-conceived 2013 plan to allow people to make cellphone calls on planes,” said Chairman Pai. “I do not believe that moving forward with this plan is in the public interest. Taking it off the table permanently will be a victory for Americans across the country who, like me, value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet.” The proposal was first circulated in 2013 by former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. It would have relaxed the agency’s rules on using certain frequencies on aircraft, allowing airlines to choose whether to enable mobile calls.

AT&T has reached a deal to buy the telecommunications company Straight Path Communications for about $1.25 billion in stock, the companies announced April 10. The deal is expected to help AT&T better position itself for deploying 5G capabilities, as Spectrum is one of the largest holders of wireless spectrum that has been approved for use in next-generation networks. Straight Path shareholders will get $95.63 per share in the deal, which is worth about $1.6 billion. The merger will be subject to Federal Communications Commission review, and the companies say that they expect the deal to close within a year. In January, the company also bought FiberTower, another large holder of spectrum licenses.

Rep Kevin Cramer (R-ND) says he’s willing to release his internet browsing history. Rep Cramer, who voted in favor of repealing an Obama-era rule that would have prevented service providers from selling customers' information without their permission, told a North Dakota radio show that he'd be willing to release his own browsing history. "Oh, of course. Yes, absolutely. No problem," Rep Cramer said in response to a question. Rep Cramer did not clarify if he would be willing to release his data in a way that would make it identifiable to him, or if he would be willing to release it anonymously, akin to how many internet companies like Facebook and Google sell user data to advertisers. Cramer said that the information internet service providers would gain from consumers is “not worth a lot of commercial value," anyway.

Several Sens pressed the Trump Administration for details after reports that US officials tried to get Twitter to unmask an anonymous account that published tweets critical of President Donald Trump. “I am gravely alarmed by the summons that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) transmitted to Twitter on March 14, 2017, regarding the Twitter account @ALT_USCIS," Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) wrote in a letter to federal officials. "Not only was the summons blatantly inconsistent with the cited investigatory authority … it appeared to be a distributing threat to free speech and whistleblower protections,” he added.

Sens Mike Lee (R-UT) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) sent a separate letter to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly inquiring about the administration’s alleged attempts to gain information on the anonymous Twitter.

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) blasted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai’s reported plans to scale back network neutrality measures. “The only way to protect a free and open internet is with strong net neutrality rules of the road — not voluntary guidelines — that ensure businesses, innovators and families can use the world’s greatest platform for commerce and communications,” Sen Markey said. “Chairman Pai’s proposal would put the future of an open and free internet in the hands of big corporations and the powerful few at the expense of consumers.”

Democratic Sens introduced legislation April 6 that would reinstate internet privacy rules repealed earlier this week. The new legislation, introduced by Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), would undo the repeal and reinstate the regulations, which were set to go into effect later in 2017. “Thanks to Congressional Republicans, corporations, not consumers, are in control of sensitive information about Americans’ health, finances, and children,” Sen Markey said. “The Republican roll-back of strong broadband privacy rules means ISP no longer stands for Internet Service Provider, it stands for ‘Information Sold for Profit.’” The bill is being co-sponsored by Sens Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tom Udall (D-NM), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Al Franken (D-MN).

A group of Democratic Sens is asking top telecommunication companies to provide details of their privacy policies in the wake of Republicans’ repeal of broadband privacy rules. The Senators, led by Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), sent letters containing a list of questions about privacy to AT&T, Comcast, Charter, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and CenturyLink.

In their list of questions, the senators grill the companies on what their policies are regarding the use of sensitive information for advertising. “Do you obtain affirmative opt-in consent to use, share, or sell any of the following information: web browsing history, app usage history, the content of communications, children’s information, health information, financial information, geo-location, and Social Security numbers?” reads one. The letter was also signed by Sens Al Franken (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).