House votes to undermine network neutrality rules, and ISPs cheer

The House of Representatives approved a Republican proposal that limits the Federal Communications Commission's authority to regulate Internet providers. The "No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act" was ostensibly proposed to prevent the FCC from setting the rates charged by Internet providers. But the bill defines "rate regulation" so broadly that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says it could prevent the commission from enforcing network neutrality rules against blocking and throttling.

The FCC says it has no plans to impose strict utility rate regulation on Internet providers, but it can review whether specific rates are "unjust" or "unreasonable" under its authority to regulate common carriers. This bill would remove that authority and could also limit the FCC's authority to prevent ISPs from applying data caps in discriminatory ways. The White House has already threatened to veto the bill, so it isn't likely to become law even if it passes the Senate. The House vote was mostly along party lines, with 241 representatives in favor and 173 against.