The FCC's net neutrality deregulation ruling and orders closely track expectations, while clarifying the agency's view on the timetable for looming court challenges, according to our initial review of the 539-page item released Thursday evening (see 1801040059). The final "internet freedom" declaratory ruling, report and order, and order text appears mostly the same as a draft (see 1711220026). Several changes -- on transparency decisions and the item's effective date -- were announced when commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Dec. 14 to scrap Communications Act Title II broadband classification and net neutrality rules (see 1712140039). Tech heavyweights said they will join the inevitable court challenge to the regulations.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn is expected to leave before the end of February, with an announcement possible after Clyburn goes to Las Vegas for CES this week, informed people said. If Clyburn leaves, Republicans would have a 3-1 majority on the commission, with Jessica Rosenworcel the remaining Democrat.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed Friday to "force" a floor vote on a planned Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to counteract the FCC order to repeal 2015 net neutrality regulation. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., are leading the CRA push and will file their respective resolutions in the Senate and House once the order is promulgated (see 1712110050, 1712120037 and 1712140044). Industry lawyers and governance experts noted diverging opinions on the procedural timeline for bringing up CRA resolutions on the net neutrality repeal. The precise timetable for court challenges to the order is also somewhat murky due to the item's structure, attorneys told us.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed Friday to "force" a floor vote on a planned Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to counteract the FCC order to repeal 2015 net neutrality regulation. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., are leading the CRA push and will file their respective resolutions in the Senate and House once the order is promulgated (see 1712110050, 1712120037 and 1712140044). Industry lawyers and governance experts noted diverging opinions on the procedural timeline for bringing up CRA resolutions on the net neutrality repeal. The precise timetable for court challenges to the order is also somewhat murky due to the item's structure, attorneys told us.
Legal challenges to an FCC draft "internet freedom" order face a daunting task, said supporters of Chairman Ajit Pai's proposals, and one analyst agreed, but some net neutrality advocates are more hopeful of a challenge's prospects. Pai last week circulated a draft to undo Title II broadband classification and net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act, and is planning a Dec. 14 vote; fellow Republican commissioners are supportive, minority Democrats opposed (see 1711220026 and 1711210020).
Legal challenges to an FCC draft "internet freedom" order face a daunting task, said supporters of Chairman Ajit Pai's proposals, and one analyst agreed, but some net neutrality advocates are more hopeful of a challenge's prospects. Pai last week circulated a draft to undo Title II broadband classification and net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act, and is planning a Dec. 14 vote; fellow Republican commissioners are supportive, minority Democrats opposed (see 1711220026 and 1711210020).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears poised to propose scrapping net neutrality regulation and broadband classification as a Communications Act Title II telecom service -- as long expected (see 1708310016) -- parties on both sides of the debate told us Friday. Pai is expected to circulate a draft order by Thanksgiving for a Dec. 14 vote that would return broadband to a less-regulated Title I information service classification. Some suggested the draft would also eschew Telecom Act Section 706 rulemaking authority, eliminate core open internet rules and pre-empt state broadband regulation.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears poised to propose scrapping net neutrality regulation and broadband classification as a Communications Act Title II telecom service -- as long expected (see 1708310016) -- parties on both sides of the debate told us Friday. Pai is expected to circulate a draft order by Thanksgiving for a Dec. 14 vote that would return broadband to a less-regulated Title I information service classification. Some suggested the draft would also eschew Telecom Act Section 706 rulemaking authority, eliminate core open internet rules and pre-empt state broadband regulation.
The FCC is expected to eliminate or relax numerous media ownership rules Thursday on a party-line 3-2 vote, industry and agency officials told us. That's despite calls Wednesday by Democratic senators for the Inspector General (IG) to investigate Chairman Ajit Pai for a possible quid pro quo relationship with Sinclair Broadcast and for Pai to recuse himself from both the media ownership and ATSC 3.0 items (see 1711140053) since they would benefit Sinclair. The FCC’s impartiality in review of Sinclair buying Tribune “may be tainted,” said 12 senators, including Tom Udall, D-N.M., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Ed Markey, D-Mass.
The FCC is expected to eliminate or relax numerous media ownership rules Thursday on a party-line 3-2 vote, industry and agency officials told us. That's despite calls Wednesday by Democratic senators for the Inspector General (IG) to investigate Chairman Ajit Pai for a possible quid pro quo relationship with Sinclair Broadcast and for Pai to recuse himself from both the media ownership and ATSC 3.0 items (see 1711140053) since they would benefit Sinclair. The FCC’s impartiality in review of Sinclair buying Tribune “may be tainted,” said 12 senators, including Tom Udall, D-N.M., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Ed Markey, D-Mass.