FCC Chairman Pai Cheers House Failure to Reverse Net Neutrality Repeal
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai praises the House for declining to reinstate net neutrality rules, ignoring the Senate's previous vote to the contrary. His statement highlights a selective view of congressional opposition and makes unverified claims about internet health.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai celebrates as the House of Representatives fails to reinstate net neutrality rules, calling the outcome a win against "heavy-handed Internet regulation." He highlights a "strong bipartisan majority" in the House that declines to undo his 2017 repeal, framing the 2015 rules as outdated and restrictive.
This celebratory statement presents a highly selective view of the congressional landscape, as Pai conveniently ignores the fact that the Senate previously passes a similar bipartisan measure to roll back his repeal. Although the House ultimately falls short of the votes needed to invoke the Congressional Review Act, the forced votes successfully put every lawmaker on the record regarding their stance on net neutrality.
Pai backs his celebration with vague claims that the internet remains free and open, broadband speeds increase, and the digital divide closes. However, critics easily dispute these assertions by pointing to ongoing reports of internet providers throttling services, blocking content, and injecting ads into user traffic.