Republicans are coming out with a 'net neutrality' plan that will only please internet providers

Fresh off the gutting of net neutrality rules by the Federal Communications Commission, Republicans in Congress are working on a bill that would allow internet providers to create fast lanes, according to a source that has seen a synopsis of the bill.

The FCC previously had strong net neutrality regulations put in place under the Barack Obama administration. Under the Donald Trump administration, the FCC voted on Thursday to undo those rules and effectively remove the FCC from regulating internet providers.

The bill means the FCC would be required to enforce some elements of net neutrality. Under the new bill, internet providers would not be able to block websites or throttle internet speeds, which are the most basic rules that open internet supporters advocate for.

It would, however, leave the door open for internet providers to begin segmenting their networks and begin charging content providers like Google, Facebook, and other companies for better access to users.

Net neutrality advocates have warned that allowing internet providers to manipulate their networks would effectively destroy the internet, hurting entrepreneurs and passing on higher costs to consumers.

The bill is being championed by Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who has previously introduced net neutrality-related legislation. She gave her first interview on the bill to Breitbart.com, claiming that the bill will “settle the net neutrality debate” and “codify the rules of a free and open internet.”

Blackburn also released a video on Twitter promoting the bill, “the Open Internet Preservation Act.” The bill can be found in its entirety below.

A copy of a synopsis of the bill provided to Mashable gave some details on the bill. According to the synopsis, the new bill would amend the Communications Act and leave in place much of the FCC’s changes voted in last week.

It will also define “reasonable network management practices,” a term that is used to reference how internet providers are allowed to manipulate their network so that internet traffic flows efficiently.

Under the bill, the FCC would enforce these rules but also be explicitly prevented from stopping internet providers from creating fast lanes. The Federal Trade Commission is currently tasked with overseeing those kinds of business dealings and would continue to do so under the bill.

More broadly, if the legislation passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, it would put into law the changes recently made by the FCC. Those changes would be difficult to undo in the future. 

The prospect of a Republican-backed bill on net neutrality has been around for months, though Tuesday’s news that a fresh bill was being circulated — first reported by Broadcasting & Cable — drew immediate skepticism.

everyone should be VERY SUSPICIOUS of Republican lawmakers rushing to write net neutrality law after calling Open Internet Order a government takeover of internet

— tc (@chillmage) December 19, 2017

The Republicans are NOT planning to save net neutrality. Any legislation will be exactly what Big Telecom wants.

— Dan Gillmor (@dangillmor) December 19, 2017

The bill can be found here in its entirety:

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