House Sends Clear Message: FCC Overstepped its Authority

Statement

The U.S. House of Representatives today sent a clear signal to the FCC that it overstepped its authorities granted by Congress by strongly rebuking the commission's attempts to regulate the Internet.

The House passed an amendment, offered by Rep. Greg Walden, chair of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, to the Continuing Resolution to prohibit the FCC from using funds to implement the controversial Internet regulations that the commission adopted in December. The amendment was crafted with leaders from the Appropriations Committee, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Jo Ann Emerson, and Tom Graves, to give time for Congress to permanently overturn the misguided rules.

"We all want an open and thriving Internet. That Internet exists today. Consumers can access anything they want with the click of a mouse thanks to our historical hands-off approach," said Walden. "I am pleased that my colleagues in the House accepted my amendment to ensure the FCC does not have the funds to implement the controversial Internet regulations."

"However, the amendment is simply a stop gap measure while we work towards passing a more permanent solution," Rep. Walden said. "I would encourage everybody who cares about keeping the government out of the business of running the internet to cosponsor the Resolution of Disapproval, H.J.Res. 37, which would nullify the rules themselves."

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