FCC To Publish Net Neutrality Repeal Thursday

The Federal Communications Commission plans to make its net neutrality repeal official on Thursday, when it will publish the revocation order, dubbed "Restoring Internet Freedom," in the Federal Register.

The expected move will trigger a 60-day window during which Congress can rescind the FCC's move by passing a resolution of disapproval. Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) has already vowed to introduce that resolution, and 49 other senators -- including one Republican -- say they will support it.

Earlier this month, Silicon Valley lobbying group the Internet Association -- which counts Google, Amazon and Facebook as members -- urged the Senate to restore the net neutrality rules by supporting Markey's resolution.

It's not yet clear whether Markey's proposal will pick up the extra vote it needs in the Senate. But even if the bill can clear the Senate, a companion bill in the House has not yet garnered enough support to pass.

Last December, the FCC voted to repeal Obama-era rules that prohibited broadband carriers from blocking or throttling online traffic and from charging companies higher fees for prioritized delivery. Supporters of those rules, including the Internet Association, argue that net neutrality regulations are needed to to prevent carriers from discriminating against competitors and small companies that can't afford high fees for fast-lane service.

Around half of the states are responding to the repeal by attempting to pass their own version of net neutrality rules. So far, governors in five states -- New York, New Jersey, Montana, Hawaii and Vermont -- have signed executive orders requiring state agencies to contract only with broadband providers that promise to follow net neutrality principles.

Lawmakers in 25 states -- including California, Oregon, Nebraska and Washington -- have also introduced bills that would reinstate the net neutrality rules. In addition, attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia are challenging the FCC's repeal in court.

1 comment about "FCC To Publish Net Neutrality Repeal Thursday".
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  1. Dan Greenberg from Impossible Software, GmbH, February 22, 2018 at 10:04 a.m.

    This is a somewhat unbalanced report. You gave the argument... sponsored by the Internet Association... for NN, but you gave no counter. Net neutrality is a very complex issue that is ill-served by such lightweight reporting of, basically, a lobbying group's position.

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