“The Federal Communications Commission’s plan for regulating how Internet providers treat traffic on their networks is expected to unleash a number of court challenges and put pressure on Congress to settle the legal morass through legislation,” Siobhan Hughes reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“Republicans in Congress oppose the rules, which are expected to be approved by the FCC on Thursday, saying they represent heavy-handed regulation that could stifle a fast-changing industry. But they see a silver lining in the FCC’s action: The resulting legal battles, they say, will prompt what both parties say is a badly needed update of telecommunications laws,” Hughes reports. “A senior Republican with jurisdiction over the issue said Wednesday that his fight was anything but over.”
“‘I think that the Democrats are going to realize what a disaster this is and will be a lot more anxious to work with us on a legislative solution after tomorrow when the FCC issues their order,’ said Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee,” Hughes reports. “Many Democrats have rallied around the regulations, which are embraced by the populist wing of their base. But Republicans including Mr. Thune expect that Democrats will change their thinking once they realize the legal threat and consider the possibility that a Republican president in 2017 could appoint a new FCC that could simply overturn the rules.”
Read more in the full article here.
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