Momentum Builds for Congressional Effort to Restore Net Neutrality

On Tuesday, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) announced that 81 Members of Congress have sponsored his measure to restore the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2015 net neutrality rules. A similar measure in the Senate, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), reached 50 supporters on Monday—including the entire Democratic caucus and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Both measures use the Congressional Review Act to invalidate FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s order to repeal net neutrality protections, which the Commission passed last month in a narrow 3-2 vote.

The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to invalidate an administrative agency’s order if a majority of Senators and Representatives pass a “resolution of disapproval” within 60 legislative days of the order’s submission to Congress. The FCC has not yet submitted its December 2017 net neutrality order to Congress.

The American people strongly support the 2015 net neutrality rules. Survey after survey has chronicled extensive public support for the principles of net neutrality, and a recent poll found that 83 percent of Americans disapproved of the FCC’s recent move to repeal the 2015 rules. Additionally, more than 1.3 million calls have gone into Congress calling for lawmakers to save the net neutrality rules.

The following quote can be attributed to Joshua Stager, Policy Counsel at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“We applaud Senator Markey and Congressman Doyle for their efforts to restore net neutrality and keep the internet a level playing field for consumers and small businesses. The quick momentum reflects how strongly the American people disapprove of Chairman Pai's recent actions. Outside the Beltway, net neutrality is simply not a partisan issue. The 2015 rules were immensely popular and the American people want them back. We urge the rest of the House and Senate to support these measures.”