Schakowsky Calls on FCC to Delay Net Neutrality Vote

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member of the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai requesting Thursday’s scheduled vote to undo net neutrality protections be delayed. She specifically refuted Chairman Pai’s statements that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could step in to protect net neutrality if the FCC vote goes through. Her letter explains,

“Unlike the FCC, which is able to create rules of the road for broadband providers, the FTC’s hands are tied when it comes to rulemaking.”

She further details how the FTC’s limited authority and technical expertise would leave businesses and consumers less protected:

“It could take years for the Commission to investigate a complaint and obtain an order for, say, discriminating against a rival company. In the meantime, competition will suffer and consumers will lose out.”

She also highlights the potential of a case in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (FTC v. AT&T Mobility) to block the FTC from enforcing net neutrality violations against most broadband providers:

“Instead of simply shifting oversight and enforcement from the FCC to the FTC as you suggest, the Draft Order could thrust broadband providers into a regulatory blackhole – not subject to any federal oversight at all and leaving consumers unprotected.”

She concludes, “Rushing forward with your Draft Order at this time, without considering the relevant facts, is not prudent decision-making. If the so-called ‘Restoring Internet Freedom’ item is passed, the ability to protect the open Internet will be severely diminished if not eliminated altogether.”

The full text of the letter is available here.