Flurry of Observers Press for Hill Action on Net Neutrality
A growing group of conservatives pressed the FCC to wait for Congress before advancing with its net neutrality proposal. GOP lawmakers released a draft version of net neutrality legislation Friday, prompting pushback from Hill Democrats, Free Press and Public Knowledge (see 1501160048). Republicans said they want Congress to advance the bill, which many frame as a compromise despite current lack of Democratic support and several concerns ahead of Wednesday hearings (see 1501200056), before the FCC votes on net neutrality Feb. 26.
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The legislation is “good old-fashioned compromise that used to be the bedrock of Congress, where each side gets something they want and each side gives up something,” said American Enterprise Institute visiting fellow Richard Bennett in a blog post Tuesday. “Congress is not happy with the FCC operating as a parallel Congress, and the net neutrality advocates are not happy with discrimination, fast lanes, and blocking. This is the kind of deal that would have been automatic as recently as the mid-90s. The only thing that can hold it up today is hidden agendas: either the opponents want to leave Internet regulation unresolved so it can become a campaign issue in 2016, or they really do want ‘government controlled networks.’ I suspect a little of both are at work.”
“Although the legislative process can be perilous, Congress can provide all sides with a way out,” said Robert McDowell, a former GOP FCC commissioner now with Wiley Rein, in a Wall Street Journalop-ed. “While Republicans and Democrats try to work out a deal, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler should hit the pause button on next month’s vote and let the elected representatives of the American people try to find common ground.” McDowell is testifying on the legislation before the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday.
The bill is “an important step forward” on net neutrality, said Free State Foundation President Randolph May in a statement Saturday. The FCC should delay action “at least for a few months” to let Congress move this legislation, May said.
“The bill gives Democrats what they want while also allaying Republican concerns about the unintended consequences of regulation,” said TechFreedom President Berin Szoka in a statement. “Voice, video, gaming, telemedicine and other services need special treatment to work.” President Barack Obama should “stop demagoguing this issue and instead work with Congress to craft a legislative solution,” he said. “The ink could be dry on legislation before the first lawsuit is even filed on the FCC’s planned rules.”
Larry Downes, project director at the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy, took to The Washington Post to write a piece listing eight reasons to support the draft legislation. Downes praised various aspects of the bill, from its preservation of an FTC role to flexible enforcement. “Those who have already condemned the bill will, no doubt, continue advocating for an FCC that is deeply involved in the inner workings of the broadband ecosystem,” Downes said. “For many self-styled consumer advocacy groups, that has been their stated goal all along.”