On the House floor this afternoon, members debated an amendment offered by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden and Reps. Cliff Stearns, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Tom Graves to prohibit the FCC from clamping down on and regulating the Internet.
Supporters of the net neutrality Internet regulations made some interesting claims in their effort to defend the FCC’s controversial plan to change the rules.
Rep. Ed Markey: “Vote no on this amendment that shuts down the Internet."
FACT: The federal government has never regulated the Internet.
FACT: The FCC’s net neutrality regulations would change the rules for Internet providers, innovators, and consumers.
FACT: The GOP amendment would prevent the FCC from changing the rules.
In other words, the amendment to block net neutrality would protect the Internet as-is.
The amendment shuts down the Internet?
Maybe someone else can clarify.
Rep. Anna Eshoo: “I would not fool around with an open, accessible Internet."
Neither would we. That’s why the Walden amendment tells the FCC to leave the Internet alone.
So to recap:
“¢ The FCC wants to change the Internet.
“¢ The Walden amendment says the FCC can’t change the Internet.
Look for a House vote this afternoon on the Walden amendment to protect the Internet from government management.
