Overnight Regulation: FCC chief poised to unveil plans to rollback net neutrality

by Tim Devaney - 04/25/17 5:42 PM ET

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from the federal agencies, courts, Capitol Hill, and beyond. It’s Tuesday evening here in Washington.

Here’s the latest.

THE BIG STORY

The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to soon unveil his plans for rolling back the Obama-era net neutrality rules. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to unveil details about his plan Wednesday.

The Hill’s Harper Neidig has the story:

Pai will give a speech on the future of internet regulation Wednesday at an event hosted by the conservative FreedomWorks group.

According to the reports, Pai will argue in favor of undoing the net neutrality rules, which were put in place during the Obama administration and require internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally. Pai could also start formal proceedings to repeal the rules.

{mosads}Pai reportedly wants to preserve the principles of a free and open internet, while repealing a part of the rules that reclassified internet service providers as common carriers — a designation that opened them up to public utility-style regulation. But he may not articulate a replacement for the rules this week.

Details of Pai’s plans are still unclear, but Pai told reporters last week that he met with representatives from industries on both sides of the debate to seek “common ground.”

His plan reportedly could repeal the rules in exchange for a framework where companies commit to net neutrality principles voluntarily.

The internet rules have long sparked controversy and were enacted after a long fight that also saw millions file public comments in favor.

But Republicans and the broadband industry have been vocal opponents of the rules, which they see as heavy-handed and wrongly expanding the FCC’s oversight.

Telecom companies unsuccessfully challenged the rules in court and have pushed Republicans on repeal.

Consumer groups and Democrats, though, have fiercely defended the rules, saying they are key to insuring internet service providers don’t play favorites with online content and websites.

Click here for the full story.

Consumer groups urged lawmakers to oppose what they said would be a “devastating” rollback of net neutrality. But congressional Republicans are likely to let Pai proceed.

The Hill’s Ali Breland has more on that here.

The FCC’s lone Democratic commissioner said Tuesday that she was “uncomfortable” with the plan to kill net neutrality.

The Hill’s Harper Neidig has more here.

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

Keep an eye on these rules in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register:

—The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reviewing the standards for so-called presence-sensing devices in mechanical machinery.

The devices are intended to “automatically stop the stroke of a mechanical power press” when a worker is detected in a danger zone, preventing injuries.

OSHA is requesting permission from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget to keep collecting information on the implementation of a new standard that would cover safety designs, as well as record-keeping.

The results could lead to future rule changes. The public has 30 days to comment.

—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will review its conservation rules.

The agency says it is part of a periodic review process for existing regulations determined to have a “significant economic impact” on small businesses.

The public has until May 15 to comment.

—The Department of Transportation (DOT) will realign management responsibilities to give the office of the secretary more say over divisions within the agency.

The changes go into effect immediately.

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Rick Perry: Trump should ‘renegotiate’ Paris climate pact

Dems want ObamaCare subsidies funded in exchange for $15B to military

Lawmakers urge Pruitt not to close Midwest EPA office

Groups urge lawmakers to oppose ‘devastating’ net neutrality rollback

Cyber official: Feds, companies need better dialogue on security of self-driving cars