News Releases

Sen. Moran on Net Neutrality: Lack of Transparency Ahead of FCC Vote Deeply Troubling

"We know all too well how damaging the 'we have to pass it so you can find out what is in it' approach can be. By choosing this path, the FCC will leave Congress with no choice but to consider all options to scrutinize these rules."

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement today ahead of Thursday’s scheduled vote on new Internet regulations proposed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler: 

“The most troubling fact about the FCC’s unprecedented expansion of regulatory authority is the profound lack of transparency. The FCC has never made the 332 pages of new rules public and now we have learned at least one Commissioner has requested an eleventh-hour change to the proposal. Congress and the American people deserve to know what the rules entail. A recent survey showed that 85 percent of Americans believe the FCC should either delay the vote until the full plan is made public or oppose any new regulations. On an issue of such importance to American consumers, the economy, and the future of the Internet this is unacceptable.

"Congress stands ready to work with the Administration on crafting commonsense net neutrality legislation, but the President is pushing the FCC to move forward. We know all too well how damaging the ‘we have to pass it so you can find out what is in it’ approach can be. By choosing this path, the FCC will leave Congress with no choice but to consider all options to scrutinize these rules. Just as the FCC believes Internet service providers should be held accountable for their network management practices, I believe the FCC should be held accountable for its potential interference in an Internet marketplace that has served Americans so well.”


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