WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH), and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement after the committee passed the partisan ‘Save the Internet Act.’
“Democrats have no intention of actually legislating on net neutrality. We’re all disappointed, we have a strong bipartisan consensus on rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. This would ensure a free and open internet continues, and we could enact these net neutrality protections today. Protections, we would add, that have governed the internet fairly for nearly 25 years - with one brief exception. Democrats have changed their position, and decided to discard nearly 25 years of bipartisan consensus in favor of giving the federal government near unlimited and unchecked authority to regulate the internet. Not to mention, their bill would pave the way for taxing the internet and killing innovation. A permanent, bipartisan legislative solution produced in good faith with our Democratic colleagues remains the only way to protect consumers, innovation, and an open internet," Walden, Latta, and Rodgers said.
Background:
This Congress, Republicans put forth three serious proposals as good-faith starting points for a bipartisan net neutrality solution:
* Rep. Walden’s bill, which codifies the FCC’s protections, so they aren’t subject to changing administrations. The bill prohibits blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, and requires that ISPs be transparent in their network management practices and prices.
* Rep. Latta’s bill, which is drawn directly from former Democratic E&C Chairman Waxman’s proposal from 2010. The bill would specifically prohibit blocking lawful content, applications, or services, or prohibit the use of non-harmful devices; and unjustly or unreasonably discriminate in transmitting lawful traffic.
* Rep. Rodgers’ bill, which is drawn directly from the Washington state net neutrality rules from 2018. Washington State has a bicameral legislature in which Democrats control both houses, as well as a Democrat Governor who also happens to be a former member of E&C. Governor Inslee said during the bill’s signing that this legislation ensures consumers “will be protected from throttling, from fast lanes, and they will be protected in preserving an open and accessible internet."
Republicans offered a series of amendments at the markup to address their concerns.
1. Flores offered an amendment to prevent the FCC from assessing fees or taxing consumers for access to broadband. The amendment failed 21-30 on a party-line vote.
2. Gianforte offered an amendment to prevent the FCC from assessing fees or taxing the Internet for network management. The amendment failed by voice vote.
3. Walden offered an amendment an amendment to truly lock in the FCC’s forbearance on the rules and regulations the FCC claimed in its 2015 Open Internet Order and makes sure the FCC can’t use other authority to impose the same regulations at some point in the future or through other provisions in statute. The amendment failed 23-30 on a party-line vote.
4. Kinzinger offered an amendment to lock in the FCC’s forbearance on rate regulation and does not allow a future FCC to change its mind. The amendment failed 20-28 on a party-line vote.
5. Latta and Brooks offered an amendment to prevent the FCC from seizing the Internet and putting under government control because under it’s Title II authority, the FCC could seize private networks for the “public interest." The amendment failed 22-30 on a party-line vote.
6. Guthrie offered an amendment to ensure that Title II isn’t used to constrain 5G wireless networks by implementing obligations that providers get prior approval from the FCC before they deploy new services, or that those new services are subject to price-regulation. The amendment failed 22-30 on a party-line vote.
7. Johnson offered an amendment that promotes rural broadband by providing certainty so that broadband providers can focus on increasing their deployment and speeds and not complying with onerous FCC regulations. The amendment failed 22-30 on a party-line vote.
8. Bilirakis offered an amendment that protects rural health care providers from onerous Title II regulations and preserves innovation in telehealth. The amendment failed 22-30 on a party-line vote.
9. Walden offered an amendment that frees up small internet service providers from cumbersome regulations so they can focus on broadband service and deployment. The amendment failed 22-29, with Rep. Schrader voting with Republicans.
10. Walberg offered an amendment that embraces pro-consumer offerings, especially for low-income consumers, while preserving innovation. The amendment failed 24-30 on a party-line vote.
11. Long offered an amendment that encourages internet service providers to offer high speeds by not punishing them with onerous regulations. The amendment failed by voice vote.
12. Walden offered an amendment that would examine the impact of edge providers in the internet ecosystem because even with net neutrality protections, edge providers can block or prioritize content, which he ultimately withdrew.
13. Rodgers offered an amendment that prevents the FCC from using its Title II authority to regulate internet content. The amendment failed 23-30 on a party-line vote.