Senate Republicans push rider to limit FCC's net neutrality rules

Senate Republicans are pushing a measure to bar the Federal Communications Commission from regulating broadband Internet rates under its network neutrality rules. While the FCC has vowed not to regulate rates under net neutrality, Republican Senators oppose the rules and are wary of expanding the FCC's powers. The measure is included as a policy rider in the Senate's Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill that was reported out of an Appropriations subcommittee on July 22.

It doesn't go as far as a House provision that would outright block the FCC's net neutrality rules until court challenges are settled. Asked why the upper chamber isn't going as far as the House to restrict net neutrality, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Issues Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) noted that Commerce Committee Senators have been trying to hash out a compromise on the issue. He also noted that the GOP has a slimmer majority in the Senate than in the House. "We are really trying to work with our authorizing committee, and Commerce is trying to come up with a solution to this. And so what we are doing is deferring to them," he said. "It could be strengthened," he added. "Ultimately there will be some sort of a conference, if we have an omnibus or whatever, there's the opportunity to strengthen." The full Appropriations Committee will take up the bill July 23.