Democrats Take Another Stab at Reinstating Net Neutrality Regulation

A new law being proposed by Congressional Democrats (mostly), the Save the Internet Act, aims to restore net neutrality rules — repealed last year by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The act would codify the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order, which itself codified the principle that internet service providers must not discriminate (or charge different rates) based on user, content, website, platform or application.

In late 2017, the FCC under President Donald Trump rolled back that order, which prompted widespread attacks from consumer advocates and Silicon Valley companies big and small.

Shortly thereafter, there was a legislative attempt to restore the net neutrality rules. That passed the Republican-controlled Senate, but not the House. This year, Democrats rule the House, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed optimism this new legislation has a chance of making it to President Trump’s desk. What he might choose to do at that point is entirely unclear.

"This is about freedom. It’s about cost. Giving to entrepreneurs and small businesses a level playing field, and ensuring American innovation can continue to be the envy of the world," said Pelosi at a press conference.

"We call on Republicans to join the vast majority of Americans who oppose the FCC’s horribly misguided decision and support this legislation to restore net neutrality," added Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

Already there are three bills from  Republicans supportive of the FCC's net neutrality repeal and thus seeking to carve a middle path between what net neutrality advocates want and what the FCC passed in 2017.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai remains defiant in the face of criticism. His spokeswoman, Tina Pelkey, issued the following statement in response to the Save the Internet Act:

"The FCC’s return in 2017 to the bipartisan, light-touch approach to internet regulation has been a success. This time-tested framework has preserved the free and open internet. It has promoted transparency in order to better inform consumer choice. It has unleashed private investment, resulting in more fiber being deployed in 2018 than any year before and download speeds increasing by an astounding 36 percent.  And it has proven wrong the many hysterical predictions of doom from 2017."

Pai's Democratic colleagues on the FCC issued their own statements at odds with his take.

Geoffrey Starks, nominated by President Trump to fill the Democratic seat on the FCC, wrote, "The American people have demanded a free and open internet and I am pleased that Congress has responded with today’s legislation. I continue to believe that the FCC’s 2015 Net Neutrality rules were the right approach and the bill introduced today takes us back in that direction."

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, also a Democrat, was even more blunt in her applause for the new legislation. "The FCC was on the wrong side of the law, the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the American public when it rolled back net neutrality."