It’s only been a week since the Federal Communications Commission repealed Net Neutrality rules and Republican lawmakers are already trying to set legislation into motion to cement the FCC’s ruling.
Republicans have introduced a so-called Net Neutrality bill that critics say will only reinforce fears of “fast lanes” and “slow lanes” in light of the Federal Communication Commission‘s vote to repeal the Obama-era rules.
Now that the Federal Communications Commission has jettisoned its rules banning internet service providers from blocking or discriminating against lawful content, the issue is heading for Congress. And if the activists who first brought the issue into the limelight have a say, it will become an issue in the 2018 election campaign.
The ink isn't dry yet on the federal government's decision to repeal its Net Neutrality rules, and yet many are already gearing up for what they say is an inevitable legal battle (once again) over the future of the web.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who claims to represent the interests of voters in Tennessee but generally prefers the views (and campaign contributions) from AT&T and Comcast, is the first Republican to propose a bait-and-switch “Net Neutrality” broadband bill.
Craig Aaron, Free Press Action Fund president and CEO, called Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s legislation, which would allow paid prioritization, “fake Net Neutrality.”
The Republican-controlled FCC voted along party lines to repeal Net Neutrality, but open-internet defenders are urging the public to recognize that the fight is not over.