Republicans say market, not government, best at preventing Internet-site blocking

House Republicans on Friday argued that so far, market forces have taken care of the rare instances in which Internet service providers have blocked access to certain websites, and that this means federal efforts to regulate the Internet are unneeded.

The GOP raised these points in a debate over H.J.Res. 37, which would disapprove of the network-neutrality regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) late last year. Democrats have said the net-neutrality rules are meant to ensure that monopolies do not form that might restrict content, but Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) said this federal effort is simply not necessary.

"We hear a lot about blocking, that it's about blocking content," Terry said. "There's been about a half a dozen instances, Madame Speaker, where Internet providers did block, in some way alter their customers' ability to go to a website. All instances, all instances, were resolved by their customers' pressure and some encouragement by the FCC."

More broadly, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) added that Congress never gave the FCC the authority to regulate the Internet in any way. "There is no crisis warranting federal intervention," he added.

As they did earlier in the week when the rule was debated, Democrats said Republicans are too fearful of an FCC rule that is far from a burdensome regulation and instead would ensure a continued open Internet.

"The FCC's open-Internet rule makes two simple promises," said Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.). "To consumers, that we can visit any legal website and use any online service on any device we want. To innovators, that they don't have to ask permission from the government or get shaken down by Internet access providers when they come up with a new website, device or service.

"That's it," Doyle said. "That isn't regulating the Internet. No one's proposing to regulate Internet content."

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said by pressing for their resolution, Republicans are saying it's fine for the biggest communication companies to "control everything."

Other Democrats protested that Republicans were taking up the resolution at all given the possibility of a government shutdown. "This is an outrageous sense of priorities and policies," Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said.

Rep. Walden interrupted Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) as they were speaking about the need to focus on a budget agreement, prompting reminders from the presiding officer that members are limited to debating the resolution. Walden argued that members on the floor Friday are not involved in the budget negotiations, and thus can continue to consider the resolution.