Senate Dems balk at draft Internet legislation

Senate Democrats are balking at a new GOP proposal governing net neutrality. 

Four Democrats said they “stand willing” to work with Republicans on legislation and acknowledged the party’s pivot on the issue. 

But they said new draft legislation released by House and Senate Republicans Friday rolls back the Federal Communications Commission’s enforcement authority. 

“Unfortunately, the bill as currently drafted would dramatically undermine the FCC’s vital role in protecting consumers and small businesses online by limiting its enforcement and rulemaking authorities in this critically important area,” they said in a statement. “Further, the Republican bill would severely curtail the FCC’s ability to promote the deployment of broadband service.”

{mosads}The joint statement came from Sens. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Al Franken (Minn.) and Cory Booker (N.J.). 

The FCC is expected to vote next month on proposed rules to reclassify the Internet like a public utility, in order to enforce strict rules meant to require all Internet traffic be treated equally. 

The Democrats said the commission has all the authority it needs to act. 

“The FCC has the necessary authority to enact the open Internet rules that millions of Americans have called for and that Republicans finally support,” they said. “The Commission should act without delay.”

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Friday came out even stronger against the draft legislation. 

“Democrats and Republicans both agree on the need for net neutrality protections, but this Republican proposal should be called the Big Broadband Baron Act,” he said. “It is a legislative wolf in sheep’s clothing, offering select few safeguards while undermining basic consumer, privacy and accessibility protections.”

The GOP draft legislation offered by leaders on the House and Senate Commerce committees is meant to enforce many of the net neutrality rules that Democrats and other advocates have recommended, while also preventing the FCC from reclassifying broadband Internet like a utility or using an alternate authority to enforce the rules. 

The legislation is meant to offer a path forward without reclassification. But FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has signaled his intent to go ahead with a vote next month.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, has been working with both sides on the issue. A spokesman said the senator was traveling in Florida and unable to comment. 

The spokesman referred back to a previous statement. 

“An explosion in the use of Internet technologies calls for updated rules and regulations, which is why I have been discussing with Sen. [John] Thune [R-N.D.] and other members of the committee the potential for a bipartisan approach,” he said this week. “I look forward to working with them to ensure any such changes keep the Internet free and open, and don’t stifle innovation. Because I believe consumer protection should come first, the FCC must have flexible enforcement authority.”