Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) vowed that congressional Republicans would continue plans to thwart the FCC's net neutrality rules approved Thursday. "More mandates and regulations on American innovation and entrepreneurship are not the answer," he said in a statement.
The rules would dramatically expand the FCC's oversight of the country's high-speed broadband providers, regulating them like a public utility in an attempt to make sure the web remains a level playing field. They were adopted by a 3-2 margin with only the commission's Republican members voting against them.
Under the rules, it will be illegal for companies such as Verizon or Cox Communications to slow down streaming videos, games and other online content traveling over their networks. They also will be prohibited from establishing "fast lanes" that speed up access to web sites that pay an extra fee.
And in an unprecedented move, the FCC could apply the rules to wireless carriers such as T-Mobile and Sprint - a nod to the rapid rise of smartphones and the mobile internet.
Senate Commerce Committee chair John Thune (R-SD) has floated the idea of blocking the rules through the appropriations process or through the Congressional Review Act. He also said Thursday "there will be some interest" in a resolution of disapproval. A group of 21 House Republicans on Thursday urged leadership to take up a resolution that would block the regs.
In response, On Verizon's policy blog Thursday, the company posted a statement in Morese Code, titled "FCC's 'Throwback Thursday' move imposes 1930s rules on the Internet." It reads in part:- --- -.. .- -.-- .----. ... -.. . -.-. .. ... .. --- -. -... -.-- - .... . ..-. -.-. -.-. - --- . -. -.-. ..- -- -... . .-. -... .-. --- .- -.. -... .- -. -.. .. -. - . .-. -. . - ... . .-. ...- .. -.-. . ... .-- .. - .... -... .- -.. .-.. -.-- .- -. - .. --.- ..- .- - . -.. .-. . --. ..- .-.. .- - .. --- -. ... .. ... .- .-. .- -.. .. -.-. .- .-.. ... - . .--. - .... .- - .--. .-. . ... .- --. . ... .- - .. -- . --- ..-. ..- -. -.-. . .-. - .- .. -. - -.-- ..-. --- .-. -.-. --- -. ... ..- -- . .-. ... --..-- .. -. -. --- ...- .- - --- .-. ... .- -. -.. .. -. ...- . ... - --- .-. ... .-.-.- --- ...- . .-. - .... . .--. .- ... - - .-- --- -.. . -.-. .- -.. . ... .- -... .. .--. .- .-. - .. ... .- -. --..-- .-.. .. --. .... - -....- - --- ..- -.-. .... .--. --- .-.. .. -.-. -.-- .- .--. .--. .-. --- .- -.-. .... ..- -. .-.. . .- ... .... . -.. ..- -. .--. .-. . -.-. . -.. . -. - . -.. .. -. ...- . ... - -- . -. - .- -. -.. . -. .- -... .-.. . -.. - .... . -... .-. --- .- -.. -... .- -. -.. .. -. - . .-. -. . - .- --. . -.-. --- -. ... ..- -- . .-. ... -. --- .-- . -. .--- --- -.-- .-.-.- - .... . ..-. -.-. -.-. - --- -.. .- -.-- -.-. .... --- ... . - --- -.-. .... .- -. --. . - .... . .-- .- -.-- - .... . -.-. --- -- -- . .-. -.-. .. .- .-.. .. -. - . .-. -. . - .... .- ... --- .--. . .-. .- - . -.. ... .. -. -.-. . .. - ... -.-. .-. . .- - .. --- -. .-.-.- -.-. .... .- -. --. .. -. --. .- .--. .-.. .- - ..-. --- .-. -- - .... .- - .... .- ... -... . . -. ... --- ... ..- -.-. -.-. . ... ... ..-. ..- .-.. ... .... --- ..- .-..
Translation of the full response:
“Today’s decision by the FCC to encumber broadband Internet services with badly antiquated regulations is a radical step that presages a time of uncertainty for consumers, innovators and investors. Over the past two decades a bipartisan, light- touch policy approach unleashed unprecedented investment and enabled the broadband Internet age consumers now enjoy.
“The FCC today chose to change the way the commercial Internet has operated since its creation. Changing a platform that has been so successful should be done, if at all, only after careful policy analysis, full transparency, and by the legislature, which is constitutionally charged with determining policy. As a result, it is likely that history will judge today’s actions as misguided.
“The FCC’s move is especially regrettable because it is wholly unnecessary. The FCC had targeted tools available to preserve an open Internet, but instead chose to use this order as an excuse to adopt 300- plus pages of broad and open- ended regulatory arcana that will have unintended negative consequences for consumers and various parts of the Internet ecosystem for years to come.
“What has been and will remain constant before, during and after the existence of any regulations is Verizon’s commitment to an open Internet that provides consumers with competitive broadband choices and Internet access when, where, and how they want.”
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