FCC to rescind Net Neutrality rules Thursday

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The Federal Communications Commission will release its order Thursday to repeal Neutrality Rules, insiders told The Hill on Tuesday.

The first Reuters report of the measure was officially announced in the Federal Register,within 60 days, Congress must pass a resolution that will reverse the FCC’s order to get rid of the neutrality rules.

Between Democrats, Independents and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), 50 Senators supported a Congressional Review Act resolution to preserve the rules – a vote shy of the 51 votes this measure must pass in the Senate.

If the Democrats can get the support of one more Republican, the resolution could be sent to the House, where it is unlikely to move forward. And even if the resolution passed, President Trump could veto it.

The FCC passed Republican Chairman Ajit Pai’s “Restoring Internet Freedom” order in December in a 3-2 vote along party lines.

The order cancels the rules that were created in 2015 by Tom Wheeler, President of the FCC nominated by Obama, to create a level playing field on the Internet by preventing broadband companies from slowing down and blocking certain types of content.

Pai’s decision has strong support among Republicans and broadband companies like AT&T and Comcast, who see the rules of the Obama era as expensive and stifling.

Technology companies and public opinion, however, overwhelming favor keeping the net neutrality rules in place.