Last-Minute Push to Restore Net Neutrality Stymied by Democrats Flush With Telecom Cash


Source: Gizmodo



Net neutrality proponents now have less than two weeks to convince 38 House lawmakers to support an effort to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality. Seventeen of those votes could come from Democrats who have yet to sign on—all of whom have received significant contributions from internet service providers such as Comcast.

Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress could undo the controversial FCC rules passed in a party-line vote last December, which effectively reversed the 2015 Open Internet Order that had established net neutrality principals as federal regulation. In May, the U.S. Senate passed a CRA resolution for this purpose with the aid of three Republicans.

Unfortunately for supporters, the CRA rules for the House and Senate differ in one significant respect: In the Senate, a discharge petition—that which forces a vote on a CRA resolution—only requires 30 signatures, a threshold far below a majority. In the House, however, a majority, or 218 signatures, is required before a vote can be called.



Cont'd.

LINK:
https://gizmodo.com/last-minute-push-to-restore-net-neutrality-stymied-by-d-1831023390