The Blaze) – In what one Republican called a
“monumental shift toward government control of the Internet,” the Federal
Communications Commission on Thursday approved a proposal granting the federal
government the authority to regulate Internet broadband providers under the
same law as public utilities.
The five commissioners voted 3-2 along party
lines in favor of the proposal known as net neutrality. The 332-page plan,
which has not yet been publicly released, bans broadband providers from
blocking, throttling or prioritizing certain Internet pages over
others. The FCC has said the proposal will not seek to impose any new
taxes or fees.
The three Democrats voiced their support of
the measure while the two Republicans dissented. Democrats say they have
the authority to impose the new regulations under under Title II of the Federal
Communications Act of 1934.
In his remarks, Republican Commissioner Ajit
Pai called the plan a “monumental shift toward government control of the
Internet” and a “rapid departure” from market-oriented approaches.
“It is sad to to witness the FCC’s
unprecedented attempt to replace that freedom with government control,” he
said.
Wheeler announced the plan in a Feb.
4 op-ed, in which he called it the “strongest open Internet protections ever
proposed, saying it “assures the rights of Internet users to go where they
want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products
without asking anyone’s permission.”
Republicans made numerous efforts to stop the
issue from coming to this. They have argued – and are still arguing – that the
FCC shouldn’t get to decide how to regulate the Internet. That power, they say,
is one that should be granted by Congress.
In fact, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) drafted
legislation that would address many of the same issues as the ones the new
FCC rules address. Reps. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Fred Upton (R-MI) joined with
Thune in the House in trying to find a legislative solution ahead of the
meeting, but were unable to push through a bill in time.
With Thursday’s vote now on the books, the
issue might still be far from over. Some have said the fate of these new rules
is destined for the Supreme Court.
Republican Commissioner Mike O’Rielly hinted
at future challenges Thursday, saying the plan is “not likely to survive
judicial scrutiny.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/02/26/fcc-formally-approves-net-neutrality-proposal-in-straight-party-line-vote/
http://www.teaparty.org/its-official-government-takes-over-internet-85993/
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