Prepare for a storm of net neutrality advocacy: The Federal Communications Commission revealed last weekend it plans to introduce and vote on net neutrality rules next month.
So far nobody knows what the first proposal will look like. The Washington Post reports that “officials close to the agency” expect stricter rules than previously proposed by chairman Tom Wheeler.
Late last year, President Obama came out in favor of the “strongest possible” regulations, which entails regulating the internet under Title II of the Communications Act and treating it like a utility.
This is a not a view shared by all net neutrality proponents, and has been widely criticized by civil rights advocates like Jesse Jackson and the NAACP because of the impact it could have on plans devised for low-income customers. According to one estimate, the additional fees necessitated by Title II regulation could total $17 billion.
Republicans in Congress are already preparing a response. Congress began gearing up for the net neutrality fight soon after Obama’s announcement, with Republicans positioning themselves firmly against Title II regulation.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) have all condemned net neutrality. They argue that regulating the internet like a utility will stifle innovation and trap it in an outdated system. Sen. Ted Cruz has dubbed net neutrality “Obamacare for the Internet.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that, in the House, the Energy and Commerce Committee will consider all options to take on the FCC, including slashing the FCC’s budget or appealing to a little-used law that allows Congress to void a rule crafted by a federal agency.
The net neutrality fight will also spill over into other policy areas, particularly cybersecurity. Many lawmakers are eager to tackle cybersecurity in the wake of the Sony hacking and multiple cyberattacks on federal systems this year.
