The deadline is just days away and 18 House Democrats have yet to sign the Congressional Review Act that would save net neutrality and overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to gut the open and free internet as Americans know it.
December 10 marks the deadline, but the House Congressional Review Act (CRA) still needs 41 signatures – all 18 Democrats plus 22 Republicans – to restore net neutrality protections the FCC reversed nearly a year ago.
While the Senate used “an obscure legislative tool” called the Congressional Review Act (CRA), introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, (D-Mass.), to reverse net neutrality in a 52-47 final tally, it’s now up to the House of Representatives to save it.
“It’s hard to think of a more nauseatingly clear example of the corrupting influence of telecom money in our democracy,” Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, said. “These Democrats have no excuse: their constituents want them to support real net neutrality and the entire rest of their party has already done so. Do they really want to be seen as more beholden to corporate interests than the three Republican senators who voted for the CRA?”
While the Senate used “an obscure legislative tool” called the Congressional Review Act (CRA), introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, (D-Mass.), to reverse net neutrality in a 52-47 final tally, it’s now up to the House of Representatives to save it.
On Fight for the Future’s new website, it exposes the 18 House Democrats who have yet to sign the CRA and reports their “campaign donations” from telecommunication companies such as Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T.
Got $45,100 from ISPs
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon
(PA-7)
“We’re putting these congressmembers on notice and sending a clear message: The internet never forgets,” Greer said. “It’s clear that these congressmembers are deep in the pockets of lobbyists at big [internet service providers] like Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T. These telecoms have given them hundreds of thousands of dollars in ‘campaign donations.’ If they want to sell out their constituents’ right to internet freedom we will hold them accountable.”
Fight for the Future is urging constituents to contact their representative and “tell them to side with the American people and sign the Congressional Review Act discharge petition.”
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