House panel votes to overturn net neutrality rules

A key House subcommittee voted 15-8 to overturn the Federal Communication Commission's network neutrality rules on Wednesday, but not before supporters and opponents of the change got more than a little testy with one another.

A previous hearing on the issue was largely a congenial affair, but as the vote came down to the wire on Wednesday afternoon, the atmosphere at the Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee markup got a little contentious.

The net neutrality regulations are designed to prevent Internet providers from blocking websites that use a lot of bandwidth, such as video-streaming sites like Netflix. Republicans say net neutrality rules are unnecessary and were formulated without the proper authority.

"The Internet works pretty well--it's the government that doesn't," Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., said.

The resolution now goes to the full Energy and Commerce Committee. GOP senators have also introduced an identical resolution on their side, but the Senate is not likely to consider it until summer.

Democrats registered their protests by proposing a string of amendments that were each ruled non-germane during the markup.

Wednesday's action took the net neutrality debate to a level not seen in the House's first net neutrality hearing last month, which featured the FCC chairman and commissioners.

Members of both parties engaged in sometimes testy exchanges with witnesses, taking the debate up a notch.

Democrats objected to an assertion by RapidDSL & Wireless President Tom DeReggi, who argued that it is Internet providers' right to block content that violates their agreements. Republican members of the committee said the rules allow the FCC to "pick winners and losers" and give Web companies an unfair advantage over Internet providers.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., joined other Republicans in criticizing GoLoco CEO and Zipcar co-founder Robin Chase for asserting that the net neutrality rules would protect small startups.

"Why should the FCC allow your company to innovate and not others?" Blackburn asked. When other GOP committee members accused Chase of using government regulations and taxpayer money to establish her companies, she replied, "I don't think we have sucked at the government tit in any case."

Republicans on the panel also argued that it is "inappropriate" for Free Press and other groups that have lobbied for stricter net neutrality laws to say they represent consumers.

"In this country you elect your representatives," said Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., who went on to compare "unelected" advocacy groups to authoritarian leaders in the Middle East and North Africa.