Democrats introduce legislation to stop net neutrality repeal
Democrats finally introduced a resolution on Tuesday that would reverse the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality repeal.
Although it's been long-promised, lawmakers couldn't take action until the Federal Communications Commission officially released legislation last week that overturns net neutrality, The Hill reports. Now that it's in the Federal Register, it opens a 60 legislative day window for Congress to shut it down. Otherwise, the repeal will take effect.
SEE ALSO: FCC chairman who killed net neutrality given gun and award from NRA
Led by Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, the plan would use the Congressional Review Act — the law that lets Congress overturn agency rules with a simple majority vote — to reverse the ironically named Restoring Internet Freedom order. The order repealed Obama-era rules that kept internet providers from throttling speeds and creating internet "fast lanes."
“The internet is for everybody, not just for Verzion, Charter, AT&T, and Comcast,” Markey said, during a rally on Tuesday, “We need just one more vote.”
The bill, which has been introduced into both chambers of Congress is only one vote short of the 51 needed to pass the Senate. The bill is backed by 50 members, including Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine. If one more senator gets on board, Democrats can prevent a filibuster and pass the bill.
It has 150 Democratic supporters in the House, with no Republican backers. The bill faces an uphill battle to pass: the legislation still needs 100 more sponsors in the House, and it'll probably be shot down by Trump's veto.
Although the legislation is unlikely to be successful, Democrats plan on making net neutrality restoration a major issue during this year's fall midterm elections.
“When a young couple is streaming their favorite Netflix show, but it keeps lagging, who is to blame?” Schumer said, “The American people will know that Republicans are to blame, while Democrats fought it.”
