Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Federal Communications Commission has reportedly officially notified the U.S. Senate of its plans for repealing the net neutrality rules put in place by the Obama administration in 2015.


Two congressional sources confirmed to The Hill that this first step in the process has been completed. The next steps include notifying the House and publishing it in the Federal Register, which those same sources said could happen either Friday or next week.

The significance of notice being given to the Senate is that this action begins the 60-day period during which Congress can stop the FCC repeal with the Congressional Review Act. Once those 60 days are up, there is nothing Congress will be able to do to stop the repeal.


Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the CRA in December, shortly after the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality. The measure currently has 50 votes and needs just one more vote to pass.

Of course, passing the Senate does not mean the measure will pass the House, too.

If the CRA doesn’t work, there is a chance that the repeal could be stopped by one of the many lawsuits that have been filed. And, of course, there are still the actions individual states are taking to impede the derailment of net neutrality across the country.


One way or the other, we have to find a way to keep the internet open and free.