On May 16, the Senate will vote to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net neutrality repeal[1]. Odds are, with Republican opposition, Congress won't do it, but it's the last, best shot we have of restoring net neutrality this year.
The FCC published the final notice of the repeal in the Federal Register[2] in February. Net neutrality is now scheduled to end on June 11.
Unless, that is, Congress overturns the FCC ruling. By using the Congressional Review Act (CRA)[3], Congress can overturn the FCC's rulings by a simple majority vote. With 51 Senators voting against the FCC, net neutrality's death sentence would likely be delayed. "By passing my CRA resolution to put net neutrality back on the books,[4] we can send a clear message to American families that we support them, not the special interest agenda of President Trump and his broadband baron allies," said Democratic Senator Edward Markey in a statement.
Unfortunately, to restore it completely, the House would also have to vote in favor of net neutrality and that's not likely. Even if the resolution makes it through the Senate it will still face Republican opposition in the House where Republicans hold a 236-193 majority. And, of course, President Donald Trump could veto the resolution.
Republicans tend to oppose net neutrality. They buy the big internet service providers' (ISPs) argument that they must charge new and higher fees for their services to pay for upgrades and maintenance to their networks.
Funny. I don't see the major ISPs not making money hand over fist anytime soon. Is anyone shorting AT&T? Verizon? I don't think so.
As the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) pointed out recently, the biggest cost for