President Obama is set to veto a Republican-sponsored Senate resolution to repeal the FCC’s proposed net neutrality rules if it is passed in a vote expected today [Thursday].
The Executive Office of the President has released a statement claiming that…
President Obama is set to veto a Republican-sponsored Senate resolution to repeal the FCC’s proposed net neutrality rules if it is passed in a vote expected today [Thursday].
The Executive Office of the President has released a statement claiming that the resolution would “undermine a fundamental part of the Nation’s Open Internet and innovation strategy”.
It said: “Notably, the Federal Communication Commission’s rule [on net neutrality] reflected a constructive effort to build a consensus around what safeguards and protections were reasonable and necessary to ensure that the Internet continues to attract investment and to spur innovation.
“Disapproval of the rule would threaten those values and cast uncertainty over those innovative new businesses that are a critical part of the Nation’s economic recovery.”
The statement concluded that the president’s senior advisers would recommend that he veto the resolution if he is presented with it.
The net neutrality rules were approved by the FCC last December and are set to come into effect on 20 November.
The rules prohibit broadband providers from blocking or discriminating against legal content on their networks, although they will be able to conduct “reasonable network management” by measures like reducing congestion.
The resolution to repeal the net neutrality rules is sponsored by Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Republican senator for Texas. There are 42 co-sponsors.
Senators were debating the resolution yesterday.
Senator Hutchison said that net neutrality could have a negative effect on the US economy.
Hutchison warned that it could cost the US hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next decade if capital investment in broadband infrastructure was reduced by just 10% as a result of net neutrality regulation.
“If the Senate does not strike down these regulations soon, they will go into effect on November 20th, further jeopardising jobs in this fragile economy,” she said.
Reuters reported that a vote on the resolution is expected today.
