Kerry Asks Copps, Clyburn To Back Net Neutrality Compromise

Sen John Kerry (D-MA), the chairman of the Senate Communications Subcommittee, has called on Democratic Federal Communications Commission members Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn to back the compromise network neutrality order proposed by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

In a letter to the pair, Sen Kerry advises them to make the pragmatic call and accept "the good" over "the perfect," saying that is what he would do and pointing out that the FCC's two Republicans have said they will oppose the chairman's proposal, meaning the Democrats' votes will be necessary for approval. Commissioners Copps and Clyburn were both supportive of the chairman's original proposal to reclassify broadband access as a Title II service. After pushback from industry and Congress on that effort, Chairman Genachowski is proposing to stick with a Title I defense for expanding and codifying the FCC's network openness guidelines, which he has scheduled for a vote Dec. 21. Neither Commissioner Copps nor Commissioner Clyburn gave the compromise proposal a ringing endorsement.