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Kilili says the Marianas wants net neutrality
“We know what slow internet can be like in the Marianas, and that is why we want to restore net neutrality for all,” declared Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan yesterday.
He is one of 150 Democratic cosponsors for a Congressional Review Act resolution, overturning a recent Federal Communications Commission decision that ended the long-held policy of net neutrality.
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pennsylvania) introduced the resolution in the House.
Sen. Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) introduced the same resolution in the Senate with 50 cosponsors, including Republican Susan Collins of Maine.
The Congressional Review Act gives Congress a small window of opportunity to negate Executive Branch regulatory actions. Last year, the Republican-led Congress used the CRA to get rid of a rule prohibiting people with mental illness from getting firearms and other Obama administration actions.
But with 83 percent of Americans saying they do not approve of the recent Federal Communication Commission rules ending net neutrality, it is now Democrats’ turn to use the CRA.
“Net neutrality means internet service providers cannot block or slow down or discriminate against content online,” Sablan explained. “Power is in the hands of the internet user.
“Getting rid of net neutrality, as the FCC wants to do, will lead to higher prices for consumers, slower internet traffic, or both. Some websites could be blocked entirely. And startup businesses would not have a chance online against the big companies that can pay extra to get preferential speeds for their sites on the internet.”
Last week, the FCC’s rule repealing net neutrality was published in the Federal Register, leaving 60 legislative days for Congress to act on the CRA resolution blocking the rule from going into effect. (PR)
