Rockefeller defends FCC's net-neutrality rules

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) shot back at critics of the Federal Communications Commission's net-neutrality rules on Friday afternoon after they were published in the Federal Register.

"Americans want the Internet to stay free and open," Rockefeller said. "After a long, deliberative process, the FCC came up with balanced rules that promote transparency and prohibit discrimination. I am disappointed that my colleagues want to use a legislative short cut to unravel these rules."

Rockefeller's statement comes after Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), ranking member of his committee, said she will push for a Senate vote on a resolution of disapproval to negate the regulations this fall. A similar vote passed the House earlier this year but stalled in the Senate.

The rules, which prohibit Internet service providers from discriminating between similar content providers, fulfill a campaign pledge from President Obama and has strong support from advocacy groups, who claim corporations will favor their own content and slow access to competitors absent such limits.

But critics contend the rules are unnecessary because there are few documented violations, and argue the FCC has overreached its legal authority. The commission chose not to re-classify broadband Internet as an information service; a federal court threw out the FCC's previous attempt at enforcement.

Rockefeller warned the tussle over the rules would lessen certainty for businesses in the midst of the nation's prolonged economic slump.

"I fear their actions will do nothing more than impede the investment and innovation we need in our digital economy," he said.

The rules are scheduled to take effect Nov. 20. Legal challenges are expected as soon as they take effect; a previous challenge from Verizon was dismissed in April as premature.

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