Senate will vote to kill or keep net neutrality rules by June 12

Senate Democrats filed a long-promised petition to prevent the repeal of net neutrality rules in a move that will force a vote of the full Senate by a deadline of June 12. The Senate will have to vote on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, which would nullify the Federal Communications Commission's December 2017 vote to repeal the nation's net neutrality rules. The CRA was filed in February 2018, and Democrats filed the discharge petition that will force the full Senate to vote on it. If successful, the Democrats' resolution would prevent the deregulation of the broadband industry and maintain rules that prohibit blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. All 49 members of the Senate Democratic caucus and one Republican—Sen. Susan Collins of Maine—have pledged to support the pro-net neutrality bill. Democrats have been trying to get one more Republican on board because 51 votes would typically be required for a majority. But this bill could pass with 50 votes because of the cancer-related absence of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Republican lawmakers and telecom lobbyists spoke out against the Democratic bill.