Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida) is flanked by Senators Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) while speaking about a Congressional Review Act resolution that would undo the FCC’s action and restore the 2015 net neutrality rules, on Capitol Hill January 9, 2018, in Washington, DC. (Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images)
Open internet defenders are calling on Americans to continue “melting the phonelines” of their representatives following news on Monday that a bill aimed at overruling the Republican-controlled FCC’s order to kill net neutrality is just one Republican vote shy of the 51 needed for passage.
Introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) in December, the legislation looks to make use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows lawmakers to pass a “resolution of disapproval” to nullify new regulations.
As Common Dreams has reported, more than a dozen Senate Democrats were slow to co-sponsor the legislation, but they ultimately signed on in the face of immense public pressure. Organizers are urging constituent voters nationwide to keep up the calls, letters, and emails urging members of Congress to support Markey’s bill and take a stand against the FCC’s attack on the open internet.
?????#NetNeutrality
We only need ONE MORE VOTE.
LIGHT ‘EM UP!
☎️?☎️?☎️
CALL SENATORS
(202) 224-3121Overturn the FCC Vote. Preserve Net Neutrality.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
☎️?☎️?☎️ https://t.co/Zj7Vh21w6z
— Stone Cold Pillar (@KottiPillar) January 16, 2018
“With full caucus support, it’s clear that Democrats are committed to fighting to keep the internet from becoming the Wild West where [internet service providers] are free to offer premium service to only the wealthiest customers while average consumers are left with far inferior options,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told the Washington Post on Monday.
Markey’s bill has also earned the support of Sen. Susan Collins (R-MN), who announced last week that she will vote for the…