The US Senate may have voted to restore net neutrality, but getting it through the House is a bigger hurdle. However, we’re now at least one step closer thanks to one Republican congressman taking a belt-and-braces approach …
To get the House to back the Senate requires 218 members to sign a ‘discharge’ petition, which would reject the FCC removal of net neutrality protections. As of yesterday, that had only 176 signatures, all Democrats.
However, The Verge reports that Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) is not only signing the petition, but also introducing his own bill which would represent a different approach to restoring net neutrality. Rather than debate whether broadband is a utility or a service, the crux of the FCC ruling, his bill would simply introduce specific protection for broadband.
Coffman said that he was taking the two-pronged approach to maximize the chance of success.
Coffman’s bill moves past this argument [utility or service] by amending the 1934 Telecommunications Act and adding the new Title VIII. This new classification would “permanently codify into law the ‘four corners’ of net neutrality” by banning providers from controlling traffic quality and speed and forbidding them from participating in paid prioritization programs or charging access fees from edge providers.
It’s likely to be several months before the outcome of either is known.
Update: The ACLU has expressed support for Coffman’s decision.
Photo: Brent Lewis/The Denver Post
“The dam is breaking, as it should. Rep. Coffman’s support to undo FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s repeal of net neutrality shows that public pressure is continuing to build on this issue and cannot be ignored this November. Net neutrality is crucial for free speech and democracy online. Other House members should take heed of Coffman’s direction and stand by the overwhelming majority of their constituents, not corporate interests.”
