GOP Attacks Internet Rules

GOP Attacks Internet Rules .
The Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON
In a contentious hearing, House Republicans attacked new regulations for broadband Internet lines and criticized the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission for adopting them.
Republicans are targeting the “net neutrality” rules, which would bar Internet providers from blocking or slowing Internet traffic and services, as well as new regulations in such areas as health care and the environment, as unnecessary and overly burdensome on industry.

Why would you put the government in charge of the Internet?” asked Rep. Fred Upton (R., Mich.), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, a Democrat, defended the new rules during the hearing, saying the FCC “did the right thing” and that it is “pro-job and pro-investment” for the U.S. economy.
Democratic lawmakers on the panel also defended Mr. Genachowski. Sveral said the FCC hadn’t gone far enough in regulating Internet lines. They said the agency should have more firmly established its authority to play Internet traffic cop by reregulating Internet lines under rules designed for land-line phones.
“Without some clear rules of the road, large companies can carve up the Internet into fast and slow lanes, charging a toll for content and blocking innovators from entering the information superhighway,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D., Calif.), whose district includes many Silicon Valley companies.
Republican lawmakers are trying to stop the new-neutrality rules though various legislative avenues, including an amendment to budget legislation to stop funding to the FCC to implement the new rules.
On Wednesday, Republican leaders in the House and Senate introduced a resolution to overturn the rules using the Congressional Review Act. The effort could win congressional approval, but it is unlikely to be enacted because it needs the approval of President Barack Obama, who supports the FCC’s net neutrality rules.

GOP lawmakers and Republican FCC members say the rules could stifle new investments in broadband networks by limiting providers’ ability to manage and profit from their networks. In addition, they question whether the FCC has legal authority to enforce the new rules—an issue the courts will ultimately decide.

Wild Thing’s comment……
YESSSSS. Keep it coming Republicans. Love them standing up to the Dems. Taking it to ’em for a change. No more compromises, no more caving.