The Senate has received the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) official notice of measures to scrap net neutrality rules, two congressional sources confirmed.
The notice is one of the first procedural steps in starting the 60-day deadline Congress has to stop the FCC’s net neutrality repeal with the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The House must also receive notice, and it must be published in the Federal Register for the rest of the process to start.
Sources said that it has yet to be determined when this will happen but noted it could be as early as Friday or next week.
After the 60-day deadline, Congress would no longer be able to use a CRA resolution to stop the FCC’s plan from continuing.
Sen. Ed Markey
Edward (Ed) John MarkeyGOP senator announces bill to ban 'manipulative' video game design Overnight Energy: Dems challenge Trump UN nominee on climate change | Senators seek probe into head of EPA air office | UN report warns 1 million species threatened by extinction Senate Dems challenge Trump's UN nominee on climate change MORE (D-Mass.), who is spearheading the CRA in the Senate, currently has 50 votes, including Republican Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsOvernight Health Care: Trump wants HHS to help Florida with drug imports | Graham calls inaction on drug prices 'unacceptable' | Abortion battles heat up with Kavanaugh on Supreme Court Bipartisan pair of senators urges Barr to defend ObamaCare in court Susan Rice slams Trump's foreign policy: He 'encourages' Russia to interfere in our elections MORE (Maine), but is still one vote short of what’s needed to pass the measure.
Pro-net neutrality advocacy group Fight for the Future is pushing for Sen. John Kennedy
John Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) to become the 51st vote. Even if Kennedy or another Republican is swayed, it’s unclear if the CRA would be able to get the necessary votes in the House.
Opponents of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to get rid of net neutrality rules are hopeful that if a CRA doesn’t work, one of the lawsuits being filed against scrapping the rules will be successful.
