Republicans say market, not government, best at preventing Internet-site blocking

More broadly, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) added that Congress never gave the FCC the authority to regulate the Internet in any way. “There is no crisis warranting federal intervention,” he added.

As they did earlier in the week when the rule was debated, Democrats said Republicans are too fearful of an FCC rule that is far from a burdensome regulation and instead would ensure a continued open Internet.

“The FCC’s open-Internet rule makes two simple promises,” said Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.). “To consumers, that we can visit any legal website and use any online service on any device we want. To innovators, that they don’t have to ask permission from the government or get shaken down by Internet access providers when they come up with a new website, device or service.

“That’s it,” Doyle said. “That isn’t regulating the Internet. No one’s proposing to regulate Internet content.”

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said by pressing for their resolution, Republicans are saying it’s fine for the biggest communication companies to “control everything.”

Other Democrats protested that Republicans were taking up the resolution at all given the possibility of a government shutdown. “This is an outrageous sense of priorities and policies,” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said.

Rep. Walden interrupted Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) as they were speaking about the need to focus on a budget agreement, prompting reminders from the presiding officer that members are limited to debating the resolution. Walden argued that members on the floor Friday are not involved in the budget negotiations, and thus can continue to consider the resolution.