Senate Republicans turn ire towards FCC net neutrality rules

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) kicked-off debate on Wednesday on a pending resolution that would express disapproval of a new FCC rule to prevent Internet service providers from picking and choosing what sort of data they will accommodate on their networks.

McConnell argued from the floor that the rule, which is set to activate on Nov. 20, represents an “overreach” of the federal government in an attempt to “fix the Internet, when the Internet is not broken.”

“While we all understand the importance of an open Internet, I think we can also agree that the growth of the Internet in the last 15 years is an American success story that occurred absent any heavy-handed regulation by the federal regulators in Washington,” said McConnell. “[W]e should think long and hard before we allow unelected bureaucrats to tinker with it now.”

The Obama administration leveled a veto threat against the resolution, S.J.Res. 6, on Tuesday, however, arguing that the FCC’s proposed rules are necessary to ensure that the Internet remains an open forum where large corporations are unable to exercise undue influence over the sort of content available to consumers. 

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), an adamant defender of the pending FCC rules, also argued from the Senate floor on Wednesday that the administrations' rules are both gentle and fair. 

“This takes a light-touch approach and keeps the playing field free, they [the rules] keep the Internet open and fee for consumers… and for everyone in this country who want access to broadband Internet,” said Rockefeller.  

The resolution of disproval likely enjoys the support of the entire Republican caucus and since it needs a simple majority to clear the chamber would require only four Democratic defections for passage.