Yesterday, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation to nullify the Federal Communications Commission’s 2015 Open Internet Order establishing net neutrality rules. The bill, “Restoring Internet Freedom Act,” would also prohibit the agency from issuing similar rules in the future.
The bill is cosponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and James Inhofe (R-OK). The bill follows the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denial to reconsider its decision upholding the FCC’s rules. Public Knowledge contends that the bill only further politicizes net neutrality, preventing Congress from introducing real consumer protections.
The following can be attributed to Kate Forscey, Associate Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge:
“Once again, the extreme actions of some Republicans in Congress speak louder than their words. This bill is just the latest in the ongoing assault on consumer protections we have seen in just a few short months. It’s particularly telling that they would introduce such a polarizing bill that would eliminate the current open internet protections even as Republican leaders urge Democrats to work with them on compromise legislation. This suggests that Republican-led legislation protecting net neutrality is not as they like to claim, and some remain hell bent on extinguishing the open internet as we know it.
“This bill underscores the need for all Americans to defend the current open internet rules to stay more vigilant than ever in the face of such efforts.”
You may view our latest video on consumer protections under threat here.
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