With the support of 50 Senators, Democrats are advancing a bill to bring back the rules governing net neutrality that were cut by the Republican-led FCC.
The FCC voted to repeal net neutrality in December and the rules reached the Federal Registry earlier this month. The relaxed regs will go into effect April 23. The FCC order reclassifies broadband internet as an information service, rather than a utility, and would erase the bright line rules that prohibit broadband companies from blocking or throttling service.
The idea behind the Democratic Senators’ push is to put the fate of net neutrality into Congress’ hands, rather than those of the FCC. With 50 Senators on board, the Republicans would need Vice President Mike Pence to break a tie in a vote. Should the Democratic Senators succeed in passing their bill, it would likely die in the House where Republicans have a clear majority.
