A recent blog at The Hill covered the growing concerns over net neutrality and the ability of politicians and lawmakers to control, or keep others from controlling, who can and cannot access what services over the internet. As the web quickly becomes an avenue for every day and necessary government and pubic services, such as health care and taxes, the issue of net neutrality and web access is no longe simply an issue of entertainment or consumerism.

The main reason Capitol Hill and the House have found themselves looking into what has always been under the control of the FCC, likely stems from the fact that Congress, and to a larger extent the public, no longer trust the FCC to uphold the principles of net neutrality — which were created to guarantee fair use on the web or all services and websites. The FCC is moving close ran closer to allowing Comcast to merge with Time Warner, a decision that almost certainly hurts those principles, and it’s no surprise The Hill is detailing why Congress might be looking into the process deeper and deeper.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) offered an amendment to the fiscal 2015 Financial Services appropriations bill that would keep regulators from modifying state laws in an effort to increase local options for Internet access. It was approved 223-200. Blackburn said her amendment would limit federal overreach:

“We don’t need unelected federal agency bureaucrats in Washington telling our states what they can and can’t do with respect to protecting their limited taxpayer dollars in private enterprises,” Blackburn said. “Inserting the FCC into our states’ economic and fiscal affairs sets a dangerous precedent and violates state sovereignty in a manner that warrants deeper examination. Whatever happened to localism or local control? This amendment means the federal government will tell every local citizen, mayor, and county council member that they may not act in their own best interests,” Serrano said. “Any such amendment is an attack on the rights of individual citizens speaking through their local leaders to determine if their broadband needs are being met.”

 

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