Abolish the FCC

WASHINGTON — Federal telecommunications regulators approved new rules Tuesday that would for the first time give the federal government formal authority to regulate Internet traffic, although how much or for how long remained unclear.

The rules will go into effect early next year, but legal challenges or action by Congress could block the FCC's action. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Tuesday called the FCC's action "flawed" and said lawmakers would "have an opportunity in the new Congress to push back against new rules and regulations."

It’s Time to Stop the FCC Internet Czars

Typical

FCC poised to adopt network neutrality rules
FCC Working With Al Sharpton to Let HIM Drag Rush Limbaugh and Others in FRONT OF A PUBLIC HEARING to Explain Themselves

Republican Seeks to Block Internet Rules

WASHINGTON - The top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee filed an amendment on Thursday to halt U.S. regulators' plans to act on contentious Internet traffic rules next week.

"The FCC chairman's attempt to impose new government regulations on the Internet is unnecessary government overreach that will stifle future innovation," Hutchinson said in a statement.

FCC Neutrality Grab

FCC chairman to propose plan for net neutrality
Genachowski's proposal also goes against warnings by emboldened Republican lawmakers who have criticized such rules as anti-business.

The proposal will be introduced for a vote before the five-member commission on Dec. 21.

FCC Chief Backs Usage-Based Broadband Pricing
There will be significant haggling over the proposal for the next few weeks, particularly on the rules for wireless broadband networks. Consumer groups want more protections but wireless carriers are resistant.

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators are proposing to create a "Do Not Track" list for the Internet so that people could prevent marketers from tracking their Web browsing habits and other online behavior in order to target advertising.

Washington, D.C. – House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) released the following statement after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski announced sweeping new internet regulations.

“I am disappointed with Chairman Genachowski’s decision to push forward with a partisan proposal to regulate the Internet in the face of a court that has questioned his authority, a Congress that has questioned his policy, and an American people that have said we need less government, not more. I am also troubled by the process under which the proposed rules have been crafted. The companies that power our economy should not be forced to choose between bad and worse. Rest assured we intend to conduct rigorous oversight and explore all our legislative options to put things back on the proper track.

"If last month’s election told us anything, it’s that Americans are exasperated by the explosive growth of government and the higher taxes and burdensome regulations that come with it. Imposing net neutrality requirements would significantly harm a key industry by shackling it with unnecessary and anti-competitive regulations at a time when we can least afford it. Make no mistake, a thriving broadband industry will be a crucial piece of the private sector in the years ahead, and we must do everything we can to ensure long-term broadband investment and availability."

techdirt

There's very little chance that the bill will actually get passed by the end of the term but, in the meantime, we figured it might be useful to highlight the 19 Senators who voted to censor the internet:
•Patrick J. Leahy -- Vermont
•Herb Kohl -- Wisconsin
•Jeff Sessions -- Alabama
•Dianne Feinstein -- California
•Orrin G. Hatch -- Utah
•Russ Feingold -- Wisconsin
•Chuck Grassley -- Iowa
•Arlen Specter -- Pennsylvania
•Jon Kyl -- Arizona
•Chuck Schumer -- New York
•Lindsey Graham -- South Carolina
•Dick Durbin -- Illinois
•John Cornyn -- Texas
•Benjamin L. Cardin -- Maryland
•Tom Coburn -- Oklahoma
•Sheldon Whitehouse -- Rhode Island
•Amy Klobuchar -- Minnesota
•Al Franken -- Minnesota
•Chris Coons -- Delaware

'Net Neutrality' Goes 0 for 95

Regulating the Web wasn't a political winner last week.
As a reminder of unpredictability in politics, consider what happened when the Progressive Change Campaign Committee last month announced that 95 candidates for Congress had signed a pledge to support "net neutrality." The candidates promised: "In Congress, I'll fight to protect Net Neutrality for the entire Internet—wired and wireless—and make sure big corporations aren't allowed to take control of free speech online."

Last week all 95 candidates lost. Opponents of net neutrality chortled, and the advocacy group retreated to the argument that regulation of the Internet wasn't a big issue in the election.

Majority Victory

Republicans Will Win House Majority

It's Worse