The U.S House of Representatives today passed bill HR 2666, which could interfere with the FCC’s ability to enforce net neutrality provisions.
As written, the bill explicitly intends to “prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from regulating the rates charged for broadband internet access service.” The bill is composed in openly broad language that opponents claim will effectively nullify the open internet order adopted by the FCC last year.
“HR 2666 is a clear effort to roll back the net neutrality rules that millions of Americans asked for last year. Going far beyond its stated purpose, the bill threatens the FCC’s ability to protect consumers, small businesses, and the internet economy,” said Joshua Stager, policy counsel for New America’s Open Technology Institute.
The AOTI, EFF, and other organizations strongly disagree with the bill’s wording. The White House has promised to veto the bill, should it be passed by the Senate.
“HR 2666 would restrict the FCC’s ability to take enforcement actions to protect consumers on issues where the FCC has received numerous consumer complaints,” said the Obama administration earlier this week. “The bill also would hamstring the FCC’s public interest authority to review transactions.”
The Senate has yet to consider the bill.
