Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Senate Will Force Vote On Overturning Net Neutrality Repeal (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the long-road-ahead dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) has mustered the 30 votes necessary to force a vote on the FCC's decision to repeal net neutrality. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) announced that she's signed onto Markey's request to overturn the new rules, under the Congressional Review Act -- which lets Congress nullify recently passed regulations with a simple majority. Markey announced his intention to file a resolution of disapproval in December, just after the FCC voted on new rules that killed net neutrality protections from 2015. These new rules were officially published last week, and with 30 sponsors, Markey can make the Senate vote on whether to consider overturning them. If this happens, it would lead to a debate and final vote. That's not remotely the end of the process: if it's approved, the resolution will go to the House, and if it passes there, the desk of Donald Trump, who seems unlikely to approve it.

7 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Re:They think this will buy them votes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The intent isn't to repeal it of course. It's too embarrass the republicans.

    It's also to expose all the republicans who oppose it, so when the abuses start, and they will, the dems can target them with ads come election time.

  2. The point is to make the Republican party by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    go on record opposing Net Neutrality. So far when the issue's come up they've mostly said they support it while putting 3 folks in charge of the FCC who are against it at all costs. The Republicans have been able to kill NN without much political fallout. This aims to end all that. If it doesn't pass it means the Republican lead Congress opposes NN, despite what they've said. If it _does_ pass it means their party head, Donald Trump, personally killed NN.

    Right now everybody's blaming Ajit Pai for the loss of NN. This aims to ship the blame where, I would argue, it rightfully belongs.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:The point is to make the Republican party by Darth+Eletius · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Correct, they stripped themselves of this power a few weeks ago by reclassifying internet service as Title I. That's the whole point here. They did have the legal authority, and they took it away from themselves to please their corporate overlords.

    2. Re:The point is to make the Republican party by Freischutz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Agreed.

      I am for rational NN. And i am 100% Republican.

      If Congress makes the law... all the better. The FCC does NOT have this power at this time.

      I'm a100% liberal and Im in favour of rational NN as well. The internet should be a place where even small players are able to grow into big players because they don't have to pay protection money to telcos just like a small trucking outfit should be able to grow into a big one because they don't have to pay protection money for access to 'fast lanes' on the nation's highways. All that charging for access to 'fast lanes' does is stifle competition because the big guys can afford to pay but the small startups cannot. It's nice that in an age of trench warfare we can still agree on something.

    3. Re:The point is to make the Republican party by farble1670 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I am for rational NN. And i am 100% Republican.

      If your party votes no on NN, will you change your vote?

  3. Re:They think this will buy them votes... by ArhcAngel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And piss off your biggest donors? No, You want your constituents to believe you are working in their best interest without having to actually commit. Rattling a sabre at the FCC's new rules accomplishes this without getting any blood on their hands because they know the actual vote will fail. Then when the voters complain they just point out there just weren't enough votes.

    --
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  4. Re:They think this will buy them votes... by farble1670 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But really will it change anything in terms of votes?

    It will make every politician take a stand one way or the other then answer for it down the road when they come up for reelection. I'm just hoping it's harder to buy off hundreds of senators and congresspeople than it was to buy off Mr. Pai.