Democrat vows net-neutrality bill if FCC rules are overturned

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) on Tuesday pledged to introduce a net-neutrality bill if the Federal Communications Commission's regulations on the issue are overturned in federal court.

In a speech at the State of the Net Conference, Eshoo, the ranking Democrat on the House technology subcommittee, said that consumer protection should be a basic tenet of telecommunications policy.

"First and foremost this means preserving the basic ‘rules of the road’ that the FCC adopted to ensure a free and open Internet," she said. "Should the court overturn the FCC’s rules, I will be prepared to introduce legislation clarifying the Commission’s authority to ensure a free and open Internet, while preventing the use of Internet 'fast lanes' or other discriminatory tools."

The FCC enacted its net neutrality order in late 2010, requiring Internet service providers to treat access to all websites equally. Cellphone carriers are prohibited from blocking apps that compete with their own services.

Supporters of the rules say they are essential for protecting a vibrant Internet, free of discriminatory gatekeepers. They are concerned that without the regulations, Internet providers could block or slow down websites that fail to pay special fees or that are viewed as a competitive threat.

But critics consider the rules an illegal power grab that burdens businesses.

Verizon sued to overturn the rules, arguing that the FCC overstepped its legal authority to regulate the Internet.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is currently considering Verizon's lawsuit and is expected to issue a decision this year.

A net-neutrality bill would put the FCC's rules on firmer legal ground, but the measure would face long odds in Congress.

Republicans are vocally opposed to net neutrality regulations, and the House voted to repeal the FCC's order in 2011. As long as Republicans control the House, a net-neutrality bill would be unlikely to pass.

In her speech, Eshoo said she hopes her subcommittee will give "serious consideration" to updating video regulations.

She said the Internet has revolutionized how people consume video content, but expressed concern that cable providers, which offer both Internet service and cable TV packages, might try to limit competition from websites.

"I want to ensure constituent companies like Netflix continue to grow and are not hindered by discriminatory data caps or other tactics that deny consumers the freedom and flexibility to stream video content whenever and wherever they want," the Silicon Valley lawmaker said.

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