Another Democrat comes out against FCC plan

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has come out against Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski's plan to boost the agency's authority over broadband access providers, adding to the growing chorus of Democratic opposition to the controversial plan.

In a letter to the chairman Thursday, Stabenow urged Genachowski to wait for Congress to update the Communications Act rather than locating more power through a regulatory maneuver that would give it increased authority to police broadband access providers. 

"I urge the Commission to withdraw its Title II classification effort and work with the Chairs of the appropriate Congressional committees to develop [a] suitable and clear statute that will help us achieve our national broadband goals," she wrote.  

The chairmen of the authorizing committees in Congress have proposed to begin work on updating the act this year, but they say their work is compatible with Genachowski's effort. 

Genachowski said at a hearing Wednesday that he takes congressional concerns "very seriously," but added that the need to act on the commission's agenda is "urgent." Experts says updating the Communications Act could take years. 

Most members of Congress oppose the Democratic chairman's plan, including — with Stabenow — 76 Democrats. 

The chairman's proposal would change broadband service from a lightly-regulated "Title I" information service to a heavily-regulated "Title II" telecommunications service under the Communications Act. 

Genachowski plans to launch the effort this month, and sees it as a way to ensure the FCC has the authority to write net neutrality rules and expand Internet access. Genachowski would place broadband services under the same title as telephone services, but in a nod to broadband companies would strip from the FCC Title II the most onerous regulations, including price controls.

The maneuver follows an April appeals court decision that undermined the agency's authority to act on key agenda items, including net neutrality.