Posted on 12/21/2010 3:42:42 PM PST by NoLibZone
Less than an hour after the Federal Communications Commission approved net neutrality rules, Republican lawmakers began staking their claim in the next potential leg of the debate: repeal.
The first calls to roll back the FCC's new net neutrality order came Tuesday from the House's most senior Republicans: House GOP Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, as well as the incoming leaders of the chamber's top tech and telecom committees.
The members each threatened to limit the agency's funds or restrict its jurisdiction in the aftermath of the FCC’s vote, with Boehner proclaiming the "new House majority will work to reverse this unnecessary and harmful federal government power grab next year."
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), soon-to-be chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, later elaborated to reporters Tuesday afternoon that he plans to bring all five commissioners before the panel to discuss net neutrality at "the first hearing out of the box" next year. He even signaled the possibility that Republicans may pursue repeal through the Congressional Review Act — an avenue that allows members to reject agency rules without threat of filibuster, provided they can secure a majority support against net neutrality.
Joining Upton's calls for strict scrutiny and eventual repeal were Reps. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Walden, who will soon lead the House's top tech subcommittee, stressed the need to rebuff any FCC "power grab that'd allow the commission to regulate" other areas of broadband. Blackburn also floated the possibility of blocking agency funds for use on net neutrality, adding: "You will see activism on each of these levels."
Congressional furor follows Tuesday’s 3-2, party-line vote on Genachowski's plan to adopt basic net neutrality protections for broadband networks. The order will prohibit Internet service providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from blocking access to lawful content and websites. It also prohibits traditional wired broadband providers from unreasonably discriminating against any traffic, though there will be no similar rule in place for wireless providers.
Following the vote, the chairman said he was ready to take on any criticism.
"We adopted today a strong and balanced order that has widespread support and that focuses on the importance of Internet freedom," he said. "It's a strong and balanced order and I look forward to speaking about it with anyone who is interested.”
Some Democrats hail the FCC's vote on Tuesday as the next step in ensuring that high-speed Internet networks remain open. Supporters included Sens. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Mark Warner of Virgnia, Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Doris Matsui of California.
President Barack Obama also backed the FCC, saying the decision is “an important component of our overall strategy to advance American innovation, economic growth and job creation.”
But those statements of approval may not be enough to stave off critics already interested in undoing Genachowski's work as early as next month.
Other Republican leaders also sounded off Tuesday against the FCC's net neutrality order — including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who first signaled during a floor speech that he and others in his party would "push back against new rules and regulations." Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), ranking member on her chamber's Commerce Committee, signaled she would revive her efforts to derail the FCC's latest move.
Terry, meanwhile, told POLITICO the vote "certainly sets our agenda for the Energy and Commerce Committee," as he and others, including Upton, plan to discuss their next steps very soon.
"The first thing we'll do is call Julius up and have him explain himself, we need to study the proposal, and then we'll draft legislation to undo it," he said in an interview.
"We'll use everything available to us — so yes, we'll use Appropriations, we'll use the legislative process," he continued. "This is really a war against Congress. ... this is a power grab by an agency almost to unheard of levels. So we have a constitutional obligation to fight this order to the death."
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), who will lead the Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee, also joined his GOP colleagues in vowing to heavily scrutinize the agency if it ever moved forward with Genachowski's proposal.
"I will exercise strong oversight on the FCC on this and other issues," Stearns said in a statement Tuesday.
"Also, working with Chairman Walden, we will outline that Internet regulation is out of the FCC's jurisdiction and that regulation will hamper economic growth and job creation," he added, noting he too would pursue a resolution of disapproval next year.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46685.html#ixzz18n9TsoOU
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46685.html#ixzz18n9KIx39
We’ll see if they’ve got the balls.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Simple equation: Socialist support = bad idea and outcome. Ask yourself if Rockefeller, Warner, Markey, and Obama have ever supported anything that equated to more freedom? Since the answer is NO, then this can't be a good thing, no matter what your understanding is of these FCC regs.
Anything supported by socialists will always turn out bad. This is a classic example of socialists trying to fix something that is not broken. Their motives will become clear later.
Thankfully, the FCC has NO real power of enforcement and the USSC has already ruled against such. This can just be ignored by all. This would be a great civil disobedience opportunity.
Isn't this exactly backwards?
The FCC has no purview over cable...because it is "wired".
But they do have regulatory authority over the airwaves (i.e., radio, over-the-air TV...and wireless).
The GOP better gets it's act together or they will be out of job 2012. The People voted for the GOP to stop Obama and company. The GOP are still playing a checkers game with the dems of if you give me this then I will give you that. Grrrr this political gamesmanship is doing nothing but sinking us into a bigger hole. The GOP has to learn they can't play footises with the Dems and win.
GOP get the message from the people right. Listen!!!
FIGHT THE BTR
BTR=Barry's Trannical Regime
You ask a great question.
Frankly, I think the intent IS good.
It is bad if ISPs start blocking content....they already throttle it for people who use a lot of bandwidth etc and that’s bad enough.
HOWEVER, the FCC is illegally doing a power grab here to regulate an area they have no right to regulate. It is disgusting, and that’s why I am opposed.
If Congress decides to allow them to, that’s different. They can’t just give themselves the power. That’s clearly unconstitutional.
Thus, the GOP is right to fight this.
I think We the People at this point could do quite fine without the FCC...I suggest we start trimming government right there. They don’t even pay their taxes like the rest of us
The easier course of action is to simply de-fund the FCC. A repeal requires action. De-funding requires inaction; simply forget to include the FCC’s budget in the proper appropriations bill.
This isn’t about content at this time. This is an issue between the major carriers against Google. Google is attempting to establish itself as a premiere software provider.
The major carriers are also providing software to its users and this brings them into conflict with Google. The carriers have at times blocked access to Google or have forced their users to use the software provided by the carrier.
These initial rules are to ensure that the carriers do not block or prevent internet users from accessing software from any provider on the internet. This is why Google was so heavily involved in the O’s campaign. Today’s action was the quid pro quo from the O administration to Google.
While this initial action seems evenhanded, this opens the door to the FCC actually controlling content on the internet. with the 2012 election just around the corner, all stops are going to be pulled in an effort to get the O relected.
If this action is not rolled back, the FCC will move to control the conservative and Tea Party movement. This is why today’s action by the FCC was so reprehensible.
Think Chavez, with nuclear weapons.
Ooooooh. The GOP is threatening a repeal. I’m sure the Democrats are just quaking in their boots at that - in between gasps of breath while they roll on the floor laughing.
The GOP: snatching defeat from the jaws of victory since 1854.
Regulating commerce (which I DO think this falls under in name at least) is a function of government I support, it’s Constitutional after all.
I think the problem people have with this is primarily that we don’t trust their motives.
While Net Neutrality is NOT the same thing as the “fairness doctrine” (though some here seem to confuse the two, even some pundits who ought to know better confuse the two), it seems to open the door for more of that type of thing.
It’s not the idea itself that I’m so opposed to, it’s the fact that pepole like Pelosi and Reid are so enthusiastically behind it.
I strongly recommend that everyone read the Wozniak article in The Atlantic about net neutrality (sorry, I’m on an iPhone and can’t figure out how to cut/paste the URL.
I just really can’t see why the FCC’s ruling is a bad one. Because our cable companies are monopolies, I don’t believe market competition will keep our access to sites and information open.
Now if this is not the FCC’s purview, so be it. But the 2012 Congress had better pass legislation to otherwise protect our access, or I and many other Internet users will be hopping mad.
Am I missing something?
These are the same Republicans that promised to stop the START treaty, Don’t ask don’t tell, and another $6 Billion for 9/11. Do you really believe what these jokers say anymore?
sure. the gop has no spine. hopefully santa will bring them one for christmas. the senate gop is like we’ll trust the “ruskies” and then reverse the fcc. spineless.
Yes, I agree. All they ever do is threat and when it comes down to it, they cave.
Yes, I agree. All they ever do is threat and when it comes down to it, they cave.
Suuuuuure they will.
Just like they’ve shown such swashbuckling ballsiness during the lame duck.
You know it!
Have you seen Obama’s polls since the tax extension was passed? He was the big winner due to the GOP’s ankle-grabbing in the lame duck.
No guts, not glory. And no freedom either.
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