Regulatory classification

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.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Sen Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) announced a bipartisan working group focused on crafting a net neutrality proposal to encourage innovation, boost investment, and close the digital divide. “The mission of this working group will be to put partisan politics aside in order to provide permanent internet protections,” said Chairman Wicker. “We need clear rules of the road that prohibit providers from blocking or throttling access to lawful content and provide transparency and consumer choice.

A Q&A with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai.

The House Communications Subcommittee held a hearing on the Save the Internet Act, which Democrats introduced recently in the House and Senate. But, the partisan bickering showed the net neutraltiy fight will continue regardless of the talk from both sides about the bipartisan agreement that Congress needs to step in to clarify government internet oversight. Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) warned Republicans at the outset that the new bill was what they were dealing with at the hearing, and that they could take up other topics at another time.

Democrats in Congress say they want to “save the Internet” with a net neutrality law. But they will need Republicans’ help to do it. The bills introduced in the House and Senate this week, unfortunately, are unlikely to inspire any cooperation. The bills introduced this week miss the mark. They bring back Title II. Democratic bills would make permanent limitations on rate-setting and other regulatory practices that have alarmed providers, but the classification is still toxic — and outdated.

With much fanfare on March 6, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) launched the Save the Internet Act, legislation that would restore the strong, court-approved net neutrality rules that the Federal Communications Commission repealed in 2017.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai was in Wilmington (DE), defending his office's controversial decision in 2017 to dismantle the country's network neutrality rule. While speaking at a co-working space, Chairman Pai called the recent bill to reinstate net neutrality by Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) and others an "unfortunate political distraction." He said the 2017 "market-based" rule change has unleashed new investments in telecom infrastructure, though it is an assertion that has been disputed by many in the industry.

When it comes to hurting businesses, schools and families in rural Oregon, the Federal Communications Commission decision to pull the plug in 2018 on network neutrality really hurts. As the first senator who introduced net neutrality legislation in the Senate more than a decade ago, I am proud to stand on the front lines of 2019’s national fight for a solution that puts real enforceable net neutrality rules back on the books. Everybody understands consumers must pay a fee to get access to the internet.

The Save the Internet Act, a measure from congressional Democrats to restore Obama-era network neutrality rules, is most likely dead on arrival. Though the bill has a strong chance of passing a Democratic-controlled House, it’s not a priority in a Republican-led Senate. It’s even less likely that President Donald Trump would sign a law reversing his administration’s decision.

As Democratic leaders unveiled legislation to revive Obama-era net neutrality rules, one name was conspicuously absent: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). The lawmaker was the sole member of the Senate Democratic caucus not to co-sponsor the measure. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) had circulated his Save the Internet Act since January seeking a widespread show of Democratic backing. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) “signed on this morning,” Sen Markey told reporters, leaving Sen. Sinema as the lone holdout.