Paul Moves to Muzzle Title II

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internet2The FCC’s March decision to apply Title II regulatory authority to the internet to enforce the principal of net neutrality was not well received by Republicans in Congress, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-TN) has introduced a Resolution of Disapproval to counter it.


The Resolution simply strips the rules of any force or effect.

It was used about a decade earlier by former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to erase the effect of former FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s attempt to ease media ownership rules.

Paul stated, “This regulation by the FCC is a textbook example of Washington’s desire to regulate anything and everything and will do nothing more than wrap the Internet in red-tape. The Internet has successfully flourished without the heavy hand of government interference. Stated simply, I do not want to see the government regulating the Internet.”

Free Press Action Fund Policy Director Matt Wood responded, “Senator Paul has no idea what Net Neutrality is. His opposition to common-sense open Internet principles shows how little he knows or cares about the law and the overwhelming support these rules have from businesses, innovators, and individual Internet users. Paul says he opposes Net Neutrality because he doesn’t want to regulate the Internet, but these rules do no such thing. The Internet has flourished precisely because we have these kinds of laws. They protect people from unreasonable interference and discrimination from the cable and phone companies that provide us with broadband access. Senator Paul should focus more on protecting economic opportunities and free expression online for his constituents, and less on parroting discredited cable-industry talking points. ”