http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/gop-game-plan-on-net-neutrality-115124.html?hp=t1_rThe GOP game plan on net neutrality
Republicans are pursuing a strategy of investigation, legislation and complaining about the FCC making policy behind closed doors.
By Alex Byers
2/12/15 5:33 AM EST
The finish line for the FCC’s new net neutrality proposal is drawing closer — and Republicans are looking for every avenue to throw up last-minute roadblocks.
GOP leaders are mounting a multipronged attack on Chairman Tom Wheeler’s rules, which would tighten regulation of Internet service providers to ensure all Web traffic is treated equally. They’ve launched investigations into alleged White House interference in the FCC process, drafted an alternative and weaker net neutrality bill, complained the agency is drawing up plans behind closed doors — and even used net neutrality as a political rallying cry to supporters.
The moves amount to an emerging game plan for how Republicans plan to oppose the net neutrality rules, which have the backing of President Barack Obama. While the FCC’s Democratic majority is expected to approve Wheeler’s proposal at its Feb. 26 meeting, the GOP is doing everything it can to cause a delay — or make the move as politically painful as possible.
“The reason you’re seeing so much activity is because there’s so much fundamentally wrong with what the FCC and the White House is doing to regulate the Internet,” said former Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.), who now serves as honorary co-chairman of Broadband for America, a nonprofit supported by the telecommunications industry. “On substance, there are fundamental problems with this kind of an over-reaching regulatory approach. In terms of process, there are fundamental problems with the way this has been pursued.”
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