By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 2-7-19
Republicans signaled Thursday (Feb. 7) that they are offering up at least three versions of legislation that would reimpose network neutrality rules, but without doing so under Title II common carrier regs they argue are a relic of the monopoly (dial-less, black) phone based Title II common carrier rules.
Democrats weren’t jumping to embrace them – the bills, that is – while activist groups said those legislative efforts were at best woefully lacking and at worst fake efforts promoted by ISP lobbyist “shills.”
That came at a House Communications Subcommittee hearing on net neutrality that featured a lot of good intentions about compromise and comity and a lot of tough language around the remaining political differences.
The bills are the Open Internet Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), ranking member of the subcommittee, a revival of a bill from Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), former chair of the full committee, based on a bill offered up in 2015 by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) (then chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), (then chair of the Communications Subcommittee); and one from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) based on a Washington State net neutrality bill. » Read More