Republicans demand network neutrality documents

The House Commerce Committee pressed the Federal Communications Commission for all documentation of the rulemaking process behind the agency's network neutrality regulations.

Reps Fred Upton (R-MI), Cliff Stearns (R-FL), and Greg Walden (R-OR) requested all communications between June 25, 2009, and December 21, 2010, when the rules were passed, between any FCC staffer and the Obama Administration as well as all memos, analysis and reports related to the network neutrality. The lawmakers also seek all communications regarding the Open Internet conditions attached to the FCC's approval of Comcast purchasing a majority stake in NBC Universal.

The lawmakers cited reports that FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus attended White House meetings where network neutrality rules were debated as evidence the FCC's rules passed in December were politically motivated. The Reps also pointed to an investigation from Judicial Watch that unearthed e-mails from the advocacy group Free Press to aides of FCC Commissioner Michael Copps advocating strongly for network neutrality, which Commissioner Copps supported.
The lawmakers request a response by August 12. The FCC indicated it plans to comply with the request.