The legislation meant to reverse the Federal Communications Commission’s revoke of the net neutrality rules was introduced by the Democrats on Tuesday.
The legislation that needs to passes both chambers in Congress is hanging on a thread, the Democrats managed to get Republican Senator Susan Collins on their side but they still need one more vote in order to pass the Senate.
However, even if they get that vote the House is much more harder to win.
The ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, Mike Doyle, said that the net neutrality legislation that he wrote has the backing of 150 lawmakers in the House.
But even if somehow Democrats manage to get the majority in the House on their side, the legislation probably will be vetoed by President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the 60 day deadline for saving the rule is getting closer and closer.
“We are just one vote away in the Senate from overturning the FCC’s terrible decision on net neutrality,” Senator Ed Markey during a net neutrality press conference he held on Tuesday morning.
“And when we take this vote on the Senate floor, every one of my colleagues will have to answer this question: ‘Whose side are you on? Do you stand with hardworking American families for whom the internet is essential? Or do you stand with the big money, corporate interests and their army of lobbyists?” Markey added.
Other Democrats said that they are planning to make net neutrality a 2018 election issue if they can’t dismiss FCC’s repeal of net neutrality.
“Democrats will be making net neutrality a major issue in the 2018 elections, and we will win,” Schumer said at the press conference.
Senator Richard Blumenthal accused Republicans that they are breaking the law by revoking net neutrality regulations.
“If they continue to break the law, we will take them to court,” he said.
On the other side of the battlefield, ISP(Internet Service Provider) companies are continuing with they lobbying while criticizing the Democratic legislation introduced on Tuesday.
“The CRA delays us from really providing consumers some basic protections on the internet,” Bob Quinn, AT&T senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs, wrote in a blog post.
“This CRA would be a step backwards,” Broadband for America said in a statement.
Adding that “everyone agrees that preserving a free and open Internet for the future is an important goal, but Broadband For America does not believe that such a significant policy issue should be decided by an obscure legislative device that bypasses congressional debate and important input from the public.”
The Hill reports that companies like AT&T and groups like Broadband for America argue that the net neutrality rules are an example of excessive regulation and have inhibited investment in broadband in the U.S.
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