Presidential contender Sen. Rand Paul is leading the fight to repeal the new net neutrality regulations from the Federal Communications Commission that are despised by conservatives,
according to The National Journal.
The Kentucky Republican's bill is certain to anger wealthy executives in Silicon Valley who basically support the robust rules — even though the senator hopes that the technology titans will help fund his White House bid.
His proposal, introduced on Wednesday, is also likely to cause some tension with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, a South Dakota Republican who has introduced bipartisan legislation to soften the rules, the Journal reported.
"This regulation by the FCC is a textbook example of Washington's desire to regulate anything and everything, and will do nothing more than wrap the Internet in red-tape," Paul said in a statement.
"The Internet has successfully flourished without the heavy hand of government interference. Stated simply, I do not want to see the government regulating the Internet."
Supporters of the new Internet regulations believe they will prevent conglomerates from consolidating control over the flow of online content, while critics characterize them as a massive government regulatory overreach.
Favored by many public interest groups, Hollywood content creators and a large number of web companies, including Netflix and Twitter, the FCC rules are reclassifying Internet service as a Title II telecommunications service, a regulatory determination similar to a utility.
The FCC's proposals prohibit Internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or throttling content, as well as from collecting payments from content providers for speedier access to their subscribers, also known as the Internet "fast lanes."
Paul's proposal has no co-sponsors, according to Jillian Lane, a spokeswoman for the senator, even though Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas, who are also running for the GOP nomination, fiercely oppose the FCC's rules as well.
Rubio and Cruz are both members of the Commerce Committee and may be reluctant to undermine Thune, the panel's chairman, according to the Journal.
Paul's legislation aims to take advantage of the Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law that allows Congress to bypass procedural measures to repeal any regulations within 60 days of the new rules being published.
Democrats wouldn't be able to filibuster Paul's resolution, and it could pass both houses with only Republican support, according to the Journal, which added that it would still face an almost certain veto from President Barack Obama.
Thune and other key Republicans are instead trying to gather Democratic backing for bipartisan legislation to
replace the FCC's rules.
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