Nearly every Republican in the United States Senate is sounding the alarm on a Biden administration proposal to reinstate so-called “net neutrality” rules, a group of heavy-handed Obama-era regulations on the internet.
Under the Biden plan, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would reclassify the internet as a “public utility.” That would allow the FCC to essentially fully regulate the internet, giving the federal government control over who can see what information.
In addition to the frightening prospect of federal regulators controlling information, senators note plans for a federally-run internet would lead to slower service and higher prices.
“Re-imposing heavy-handed, public-utility regulations on the internet would threaten the progress our country has made since 2017, and it would steer our country out of the fast lane and into a world of less competition, less choice, less investment, slower speeds, and higher prices,” wrote the senators to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
They also noted Biden's proposal exceeds the FCC's allotted powers.
“Further, the FCC lacks this statutory authority over broadband internet access. Any attempt by the FCC to reinstate net neutrality regulations and the onerous rules of Title II on internet service providers will not survive judicial review,” the senators noted.
“The FCC has pushed net neutrality and lost in court – more than once – already, and two of President Obama's former solicitors general have warned that reclassification by the FCC cannot survive the major questions doctrine,” they add.
In addition to Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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