Panel Agrees To Dems' Request For Network Neutrality Hearing

House Commerce Committee Republicans have agreed to a request from the panel's top Democrats to hold a hearing on a resolution that would block the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality rules.

The Communications and Technology Subcommittee postponed its scheduled markup Wednesday of a resolution of disapproval, offered by its chairman, Greg Walden (R-OR) to block implementation of the FCC's open Internet rules. The Congressional Review Act gives lawmakers a limited amount of time to pass a resolution of disapproval aimed at blocking regulations approved by federal agencies. While such resolutions are subject to the regular congressional process, they can not be amended. A committee spokeswoman said that the committee has agreed to a request from Commerce Committee ranking member Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA), the ranking member on the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, to hold a hearing on the resolution before marking it up. The spokeswoman did not say when such a hearing would occur.