Quartz Media has just confirmed that The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), directed by Ajit Pai, has voted on Thursday, December 14th to repeal the Open Internet Order, ending Net Neutrality. Essentially, what this means is that internet service providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon have the power to dictate what consumers can access online, and potentially for a price, according to Reuters.
Considering that your Twitter feed over the last few days was probably filled with urges to save Net Neutrality, this vote comes as an extreme shock. However, just as the internet was quick to campaign to save Net Neutrality, media sites are already showing the various ways in which this vote can be undone—because Net Neutrality will not go down without a fight.
NEW YORK (AP) — The FCC votes on party lines to undo sweeping Obama-era ‘net neutrality’ rules that guaranteed equal access to internet.
— Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) December 14, 2017
As Quartz Media reports, there are options available to undo the FCC’s decision. One way is through Congress, as Quartz Media explains that Legislators in the House and Senate could pass a law that takes the power of Net Neutrality’s fate out of the FCC’s hands. However, considering everything else on their plate, this option is not very likely. So, enter the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
Basically, under the law of the CRA, Legislators of either voting party can push to reverse agency rulings, following the pass of a “resolution of disapproval” and a majority in the Senate, according to Quartz. In this scenario, the CRA could permanently reverse the vote by the FCC. Although only one reversal successfully resulted from the CRA before 2016, as Quartz notes, this law may be the best shot at saving Net Neutrality. So, if you’re in need of some good news right now, Senators are already planning to focus on using the CRA to bring back Net Neutrality.
NEW: @SenMarkey and other senators plan to introduce a CRA resolution to overturn the FCC’s #NetNeutrality decision. pic.twitter.com/pMjsVUTpU2
— Andrew Wyrich (@AndrewWyrich) December 14, 2017
According to a snippet of a press release (shared by The Daily Dot’s Andrew Wyrich), Senator Edward J. Markey and 15 other Senators have “announced their plan to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would undo today’s action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and restore the 2015 net neutrality rules.” The release goes on to feature quotes from Senator Markey, who believes that Trump’s FCC made a “historic mistake” with their vote today.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has, on multiple occasions, penned letters to the FCC with concerns over millions of fake comments being submitted (using Americans’ identities and information without their consent) that allegedly “corrupted the public commenting process.” He also announced on Thursday his intention to sue to “stop the FCC’s illegal rollback of #netneutrality.”
I will sue to stop the FCC’s illegal rollback of #netneutrality. New Yorkers and all Americans deserve a free and open internet. pic.twitter.com/BNW7TDsp4z
— Eric Schneiderman (@AGSchneiderman) December 14, 2017
“The FCC’s vote to rip apart net neutrality is a blow to New York consumers, and to everyone who cares about a free and open internet,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “The FCC just gave Big Telecom an early Christmas present, by giving internet service providers yet another way to put corporate profits over consumers. Today’s rollback will give ISPs new ways to control what we see, what we do, and what we say online. That’s a threat to the free exchange of ideas that’s made the Internet a valuable asset in our democratic process.”