House panel advances rider to block Net Neutrality rules

The House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that includes a policy rider to block newly implemented network neutrality rules temporarily. The 30-20 party-line vote on the financial services and general government appropriations bill is the most direct action by Republican Representatives to stall the new rules since they were approved by the Federal Communications Commission in February.

During the markup, Democratic Representatives said policy riders like the net neutrality provision included in the funding bill could lead to a shutdown of numerous agencies in October. "We have received more phone calls on this issue than any other issue in a long, long time," Rep José Serrano (D-NY) said of the Internet regulation. "And I don't understand why some people can't understand that net neutrality is here, it is here to stay and it is what the American people want." Republican Reps have floated a number of other proposals seeking a legislative compromise on net neutrality or to kill the rules outright. But none has made progress in either chamber. An amendment from Democratic Reps to strip the net neutrality provisions out was voted down 31-19, mostly along party lines. Rep Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was the only Democratic Representative who voted to leave it in place.