House panel to hold net neutrality hearing

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will examine federal regulators’ attempt to write new net neutrality rules next month, it announced on Wednesday.

The Dec. 10 session is likely to offer Republican committee leaders the chance to grill Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials on the expected new rules.

{mosads}GOP lawmakers have feared that aggressive FCC rules would limit the growth of the Internet.

“As the FCC moves closer to a vote that could put the government in control of the Internet, it is imperative that the Congress hears directly from all five commissioners and leading stakeholders,” Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said in a statement. “The Internet has thrived as a beacon of technological advancement, social connectivity, and economic growth because the FCC and Congress have rightly decided that a hands-off approach is best.”

The committee’s announcement about the hearing came just hours after all the Republican members of the House committee and its Senate counterpart sent FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler a letter warning him against making a bold regulatory move to reclassify broadband Internet service as a “common carrier” service. Reclassifying the Internet would allow the agency to use the same authority that it has for phone lines and other utilities.

A committee aide said that the panel had reached out to the FCC about having the commissioners appear, though they have not yet been confirmed. 

The FCC’s attempt to write new net neutrality rules came under intense pressure on Monday, when President Obama weighed in urging the FCC to reclassify the Web and treat it like a utility.

“While the president remains steadfast in his support for a government take-over of another critical piece of the American economy, the FCC commissioners must remain resolute in our nation’s commitment to keep the Internet free of government control,” said Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the head of the Communications and Technology subcommittee.

—Updated at 7:06 p.m.