Senate Republicans join probe of Net Neutrality rules

Senate Republicans are questioning whether the White House exerted improper pressure on the Federal Communications Commission during its development of network neutrality rules. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler requesting all documents and communications between agency staff and the White House related to the Internet rules.

The letter asks Chairman Wheeler to answer a number of questions about the Obama Administration’s influence on the independent agency during the rule-making. "I am concerned that undue outside pressure may have led you to this decision. In particular, my concern is the apparent pressure exerted on you and your agency by the White House," Chairman Johnson said in his letter to Chairman Wheeler. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee made a similar request.