Kerry to Colleagues: Don't Nullify Net Neutrality

Source: B&C

According to a copy of the letter, Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) Friday asked his colleagues to vote against the Congressional Review Act resolution to nullify the FCC's network neutrality rules, which looks like it could get a vote on the Senate floor next week.

It has already passed the Republican-controlled House, but has an uphill slog in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

In the letter, Kerry says that not only would nullifying the rule signal Congress was prepared to deny independent regulators the ability to execute the law, "but it would discourage investment in the next Google or Amazon and put at risk health and safety rules, environmental protections, worker rights" and "every other public protection that our agencies enforce that some in Congress do not like." Obviously that last part was a reference to the precedent it could set for Congress overturning regulations.

The nullification route is an unusual legislative gambit -- last used in the media space by then Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan to try and block media ownership rule changes -- but Congress does have the power to overturn the decisions of independent regulatory agencies via that route.

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/476223-Kerry_to_Colleagues_Don_t_Nullify_Net_Neutrality.php