You can forget any efforts in the U.S. Senate this year to restore the 2015 net neutrality rules adopted when President Obama led the country.
This week, U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the Democratic effort was “dead on arrival in the Senate.” His comments came as the House debated the plan to reinstate the rules and overturn an FCC decision in December 2017. The vote was delayed.
When the FCC voted to put an end to the net neutrality rules, it was a 3-2 decision to repeal rules barring providers from blocking or slowing internet content.
McConnell’s declaration came as the White House warned Congress if the bill were approved, his advisers would recommend that he veto it.
The White House issued a statement saying it strongly opposes the measure that would “return the heavy-handed regulatory approach of the previous administration.””government takeover of the internet” and said it would open the door to the FCC eventually setting internet rates or imposing new taxes on internet service similar to levies on cable or telephone service. Democrats say polls show Americans overwhelmingly back net neutrality and want protections that providers will not interfere with their internet access.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Amanda Becker; Editing by Dan Grebler and Lisa Shumaker)