Law Senate Democrats finally grow a spine, vote to save Net Neutrality - Still needs to pass in the house

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/387985-senate-votes-to-save-net-neutrality-rules

The Senate on Wednesday voted to reinstate the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net neutrality rules, passing a bill that has little chance of advancing in the House but offers net neutrality supporters and Democrats a political rallying point for the midterm elections.

Democrats were able to force Wednesday's vote using an obscure legislative tool known as the Congressional Review Act (CRA). CRA bills allow Congress, with a majority vote in each chamber and the president's signature, to overturn recent agency moves.

Three Republicans - Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and John Kennedy (La.) - joined the 49 Senate Democrats to pass the bill 52-47.

They argue that without the net neutrality regulations, which require internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally, companies such as Verizon and Comcast will be free to discriminate against certain content or boost their partner websites.

The bill will have a much harder time in the House, where Democrats would need 25 Republicans to cross the aisle in order to bring it up for a vote.

For their part, most Republicans argue that the net neutrality rules are unnecessary and onerous for broadband providers. The GOP has been urging Democrats to come to the negotiating table to work out a legislative replacement to the FCC rules, a move that is also backed by the broadband industry.

"I'm disappointed but not surprised that Democrats rejected my offer to write, consider, and amend legislation in a process open to ideas from both sides of the aisle," Sen. John Thune(R-S.D.) said in a statement. "Despite this vote, I remain committed to finding a path to bipartisan protections for the internet and stand ready to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle when they are ready as well."



But net neutrality supporters reject the idea that a Republican-controlled Congress could come up with protections as strong as the FCC rules. Legislation offered by GOP members leaves open the possibility that internet providers could create "fast lanes" by charging websites for faster speeds.

Democrats and net neutrality supporters are also trying to fight the FCC's repeal order in court, though the legal battle is likely to drag on for months.

 

[Crunchy Leaf]

I know Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have previously voted for measures sponsored by Democrats that no other Republicans voted on, but I wonder what made John Kennedy decide to support this? I don't think I've seen his name in any 'moderate Republican' type lists before.

I would normally say the odds of getting 25 Republicans to vote for this in the House would be impossible, but...hey, midterms are coming up!

 

[RG 448]

The GOP has been urging Democrats to come to the negotiating table to work out a legislative replacement to the FCC rules, a move that is also backed by the broadband industry.

“Look, we know you think everyone should be treated equally, and on that we’re willing to meet you halfway...”

 

[Bassomatic]

I really give 0 fucks about this but it's clear it was not a popular move and it's the closest the democratic party has done something remotely not spitting on people. So improvement I guess?

Granted the entire sub forum salt mine was half people mad about this I kinda want it to stay dead. Because butt hurt and falling deeper out of touch for the Democrats is way funnier than what ever NN is all about or could do.

 

[PantsFreeZone]

All you have to do is look at the internet in 2015 and who backs Net Neutrality to realize that there is nothing Neutral about this online socialism initiative.

I hope the House kills or the President vetoes the bill.

And why do people fall for this shit? Is it the name? Like The War on Drugs or the Affordable Care Act?

 

[IV 445]

And why do people fall for this shit? Is it the name? Like The War on Drugs or the Affordable Care Act?

It's a sneaky tactic like the "Violence Against Women Act" that had very little to do with helping domestic abuse victims. But a few R's voted against it, and the narrative was "Are you FOR violence against women??"

But isn't all politics underhanded?

 

[frozenrunner]

All you have to do is look at the internet in 2015 and who backs Net Neutrality to realize that there is nothing Neutral about this online socialism initiative.

I hope the House kills or the President vetoes the bill.

And why do people fall for this shit? Is it the name? Like The War on Drugs or the Affordable Care Act?

What, you don't trust the this legislation aimed at preventing a problem that's never happened but totally will soon enough for reasons nobody has explained? I bet you got suspicious when all those big corporations and politicians suddenly got very, loudly worried about our rights to "equal data" and proposed "bigger government" solutions.

What a paranoid! Didn't you see the Burger King explanation video?!

 

[CWCchange]

I would normally say the odds of getting 25 Republicans to vote for this in the House would be impossible, but...hey, midterms are coming up!

I don't see Democrats making net neutrality, something the majority of its base doesn't understand, a major issue in the midterms over openly wanting to destroy the country and yelling "TRUMP IS HITLER!"

 

[Crunchy Leaf]

I don't see Democrats making net neutrality, something the majority of its base doesn't understand, a major issue in the midterms over openly wanting to destroy the country and yelling "TRUMP IS HITLER!"

I was thinking more that polls show most Republican voters support Net Neutrality. If you're a Republican congressman, this seems like a decent issue to get your people out to re-elect you, especially if you're in an R +5 district or less.

 

[Slap47]

They're only supporting this because they know it has no chance.

 

[DeadwastePrime]

it either gets blocked by the house or vetoed by don. either way, i still wont be able to watch porn as fast

 

[Arctic]

We did it Reddit!

 

[Joan Nyan]

Regardless of how you feel about NN we should at least be happy that our elected legislators are the ones making the decision now instead of an unelected alphabet soup bureaucracy.