Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the restoration of the Open Internet Order of the Federal Communications Commission, which reinstates net neutrality rules that prohibit internet service providers from slowing internet content.

Highlights:

• Repeals the ‘Restoring Internet Freedom” Order adopted by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) on December 14, 2017 (Sec. 2).

• Restores the “Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet” Order that was adopted by the FCC in February 26, 2015 (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this bill does not prohibit internet service providers from blocking unlawful content, such as child pornography or copyright-infringing materials (Sec. 15).

• Exempts small businesses from transparency requirements relating to performance characteristics and network practices (Sec. 3).

• Defines “small business” as any provider of broadband internet access that has no more than 100,000 subscribers aggregated over all the provider’s affiliates (Sec. 3).

• Requires the FCC to submit, no later than 180 after the enactment of this bill,  reports to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee with recommendations regarding whether the exception to small businesses should be modified, and whether the definition of the term “small business” should be modified (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress examining the importance of the open internet rules to vulnerable communities, no later than one year after the enactment of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Defines “vulnerable communities” as the following (Sec. 6):

• Ethnic and racial minorities;

• Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups;

• Rural populations;

• Individuals with disabilities; and

• The elderly.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text