Republicans Try to Pre-empt the FCC

[Commentary] Many Republicans have no fondness for net neutrality — the idea that cable and phone companies should treat all information equally as it travels over their broadband Internet networks.

So it comes as no surprise that some of them are trying to throw a wrench into the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to adopt strong Internet rules. Republicans and large telecommunications companies are natural allies in opposing government regulations. The good news is that even if Republicans in Congress, who receive big donations from telecommunications companies, can push through Thune’s and Upton’s net neutrality legislation, President Barack Obama would almost surely veto it. In November, the President called on the FCC to reclassify broadband. But Republicans could try to get the proposal through by attaching it to unrelated bills the President would find difficult to veto.

Democrats in Congress and President Obama should be ready to defend the FCC.