WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats say they will force a vote on Wednesday on a resolution to restore the FCC‘s net neutrality rules.
All 49 members of the Democratic caucus are in favor of the resolution, along with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). If it passes, the resolution still faces a tough vote in the House, as well as the signature of President Donald Trump.
The White House has signaled that Trump favors the move by the FCC in December to roll back many of the net neutrality rules, including those prohibiting internet providers from blocking or throttling content, or from selling “fast lanes” of traffic to get speedier access to consumers.
Democrats, however, see this as a winning issue in the midterms, particularly among younger voters. Polls have shown the public favors the rules, and some Republicans in Congress have proposed legislation to put some of the net neutrality principles into law.
But net neutrality advocates have said that the legislation, including a bill proposed by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), falls short of the robust rules put in place by the FCC under its previous chairman, Tom Wheeler, an appointee of President Barack Obama.
Popular on Variety
Democrats filed a discharge petition last week that triggered a vote on the resolution, which is allowed for under the Congressional Review Act. It enables Congress to register its disapproval on agency actions by a simple majority vote.
