When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rammed through net neutrality regulations last December, Chairman Julius Genachowski may have been hoping Americans would be too busy with their Christmas shopping to notice and that the matter would die as other issues grabbed at Congress’ and the public’s attention in the new year.
Judging by the response of House Republicans to the FCC, however, it appears that Genachowski judged wrong.
On Sunday, Speaker Boehner fired a shot across the FCC’s bow, telling a group of religious broadcasters that the FCC’s net neutrality rules demonstrate that the agency “is creeping further into the free market,” and suggesting that FCC regulation could impact freedom of speech, moving forward.
“The last thing we need, in my view, is the FCC serving as Internet traffic controller, and potentially running roughshod over local broadcasters who have been serving their communities with free content for decades,” Boehner said in comments cited by the Washington Times.
The Speaker’s view seems to be shared by Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee, led by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.). That panel is set to vote tomorrow on a “resolution of disapproval” of the FCC’s regulations.
Rep. Walden previously succeeded in inserting an amendment into the Continuing Resolution that would bar the FCC from using funds appropriated to it to implement net neutrality.
The FCC has remained quiet regarding such moves, though net neutrality advocates such as the hard left group Free Press have critiqued them, as well as Boehner’s comments. Tomorrow’s House Subcommittee vote will take place at 9:30 a.m., and the resolution is expected to pass.