GOP Pushing Bill That Guts FCC Authority, Kills Net Neutrality House GOP members have pretty much been trying to punish the FCC for standing up to large ISPs since the regulator passed net neutrality rules last year. The latest effort involves a new bill that professes to address FCC "transparency" -- but actually looks to gut both FCC funding and authority over broadband providers. An announcement by the House Appropriations Committee crows that the House intends to cut 2017 FCC funding by $69 million below 2016 levels, and provides $43 million less than what the agency asked for.

But the bill also prohibits the FCC from enforcing net neutrality rules until the industry's lawsuit is settled (which the FCC was largely doing anyway) and tries to stall the FCC's quest to open the cable box to competition. In fact, the bill uses an overly broad definition of "rate regulation" to prevent the FCC from doing pretty much anything. The bill comes, not coincidentally, as more ISPs like Comcast and AT&T embrace usage caps. ISPs have been pressuring loyal politicals to hamstring the FCC, because the agency has been signaling that it may actually do something about the anti-competitive potential of both usage caps and zero rating (exempting some content from usage caps to anti-competitive advantage). House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) tries to frame the bill as simply a government cost-cutting effort. “The job of this bill is two-fold: to make wise investments with taxpayer dollars in the programs and agencies that we need to grow our economy and enforce our laws, and to tightly hold the reins on the over-spending and overreach within federal bureaucracies,” Rogers said. “This bill makes great strides on all accounts – carefully investing taxpayer dollars in programs that promote opportunity, while keeping these agencies accountable to the American people.” You're supposed to ignore the fact that Rogers You're supposed to ignore the fact that Rogers took in $25,000 from the broadband industry in campaign contributions last election cycle, and that the bill has nothing to do with fiscal responsibility or integrity -- and everything to do with protecting the nation's broadband duopoly from accountability or competition.







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Most recommended from 81 comments

jkeelsnc

join:2008-08-22

Greensboro, NC 47 recommendations jkeelsnc Member Jerks Situations like this are why I will never vote GOP ever. Also, this congressman's double speak and deception when he talks means if I lived in Kentucky I'd never vote for him either. What he really means is "My corporate donors want me to limit the FCC's power so they can have caps and prevent competition in the market place". Nope, I won't and I never will vote for liars like Hal Rogers.

Makaveli998

join:2002-04-23

Toronto, ON 30 recommendations Makaveli998 Member hmm So the FCC is finally doing what the taxes payers want they are now trying to pass a bill to stop that.



Real smart..... SpectrumDude

join:2002-04-14

Kernersville, NC 20 recommendations SpectrumDude Member This is the price that we pay Elections have consequences. We now have a republican controlled congress that is of for and by the corporations and the all mighty dollar, So if you voted or plan to vote republican, think long and hard. You will be part of the problem. priceshawnm

join:2013-06-12 18 recommendations priceshawnm Member Republicans Republicans don't give a crap about you if you are not in the top 1% of Wealth earners. There motto is if you aren't rich we don't give a damn about you. Screw the poor and Middle Class is another one of their mantras.

Anonc9be1

@teksavvy.com 9 recommendations Anonc9be1 Anon A wise man said it best A man cannot have two masters.

tc1uscg

join:2005-03-09

Guantanamo 4 recommendations tc1uscg Member Thats nice.. on the up side, I can buy that HAM radio I always wanted and run rampant on the air waves because the FCC won't be able to do anything about it.. NOT.

Anonc6d00

@2601:245.x 3 recommendations Anonc6d00 Anon Too late! "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."



- Abraham Lincoln



Sorry Abe, the repubs are screwing it up.