Congressional Democrats have introduced the Save the Internet Act of 2019, which if adopted would restore the open Internet rules that the FCC adopted in 2015 under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler. The rules were repealed in 2017 after Ajit Pai, who as commissioner had opposed the rules, was installed as FCC Chairman. Among other things, the open Internet rules imposed Title II authority over broadband Internet access and prohibited broadband providers from throttling or blocking Internet access or charging content-providers for faster access. Proponents have touted that over 80% of all Americans support net neutrality. Sponsored by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA), the bill faces a slim chance of passing the Republican-controlled Senate and/or being signed by the president without bipartisan concessions. Republican lawmakers have also been working on net neutrality legislation that would restore bright line rules without Title II reclassification. In the meantime, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is getting ready to rule on a lawsuit challenging the FCC’s repeal of the 2015 rules.
