Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. (Pic by jonworth, via Flickr)
The resolution to disapprove the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules was defeated in the U.S. Senate today.
The resolution would have repealed the net neutrality rules issued last year by the FCC that go into effect this month. Net neutrality is the idea that consumers should have access to all Internet content and services, not limited by Internet service providers “that want to treat them differently so they can charge you more depending on what you use.”
“An Internet that honors basic standards of net neutrality is key to the free exchange of ideas, the health of our democracy and the future of Internet innovation,” said Colorado Senator Michael Bennet. “I’m glad the Senate has not intervened to prevent the FCC from supporting the even playing field that has made the Internet such an important part of our business environment, learning and culture.”
Marco Rubio, R-Fla. voted for repeal while Bill Nelson, D-Fla., voted against it. The overall vote went along party lines, with 46 Repubican senators voting yes and all 52 Democrats voting not to support the resolution.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, sponsored the resolution of disapproval in the Senate. The House version of this resolution was approved in April.
Democrat John Rockefeller — chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation — issued the following statement after the Senate vote:
I am pleased that the Senate voted down this misguided resolution. By keeping the Open Internet rules in place, we can protect consumers, inspire innovation, and foster investment in the broadband economy. These rules are the product of hard work, consensus, and compromise. During this process, the agency received written input from more than 100,000 commenters, 90 percent of which supported adoption of the Open Internet rules. So at the end of the day, the FCC’s light-touch approach to network neutrality prevailed, and that is a good thing.
Scot Kersgaard contributed to this article.
