The vote went as expected, but odds are it won’t go further than the senate.
On Wednesday, U.S. Senate Democrats voted 52 to 47 in favor of undoing the Federal Communications Commission’s “Restoring Internet Freedom” order, which ended Obama-era net neutrality protections.
The measure passed with a better margin than expected, with three Republicans and two independents helping to put Democrats over the top. It must still survive the Republican-dominated House of Representatives however, and a likely veto by President Donald Trump. The White House has opposed any return to net neutrality.
Senate Democrats used the Congressional Review Act to force the vote. Sans intervention, current net neutrality protection as expected to be repealed on June 11th.
Supporters of net neutrality protections are concerned that without the protections, internet services providers will no longer subject to Title II rules and will begin preferentially blocking or throttling traffic, favoring their own services or customers and partners that pay the best.
Among the corporate backers of neutrality is Apple. The company’s business model is highly dependent on fast internet access, whether for services like Apple Music, iTunes, and FaceTime, or just general usability.
Even if the vote to restore net neutrality protections does fail in the House and doesn’t receive a presidential veto, it’s thought that this could become a significant campaign issue come the November elections, with political pressure building from there.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Reuters