Net Neutrality on the House Chopping Block

The House of Representatives could vote as early as Thursday to repeal federal “net neutrality” regulations that force Internet providers to give equal bandwith to all online content providers, the National Journal reports. The full House vote looms despite a White House threat to veto any measure overturning the one-size-fits-all rule imposed by the Federal Communications Commission.

House Republicans say the FCC lacks the legal authority to prevent Internet providers from selectively managing their bandwith as they see fit. Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican, said during Tuesday’s floor debate that he introduced the repeal resolution in order to stop the FCC from making a “naked grab for power it does not have.”

But an identical measure is languishing in the Senate, and the White House veto threat further clouds the House resolution’s prospects. As a fallback, GOP House leaders are moving to defund the FCC’s implementation of the rules through the budget process.