The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bipartisan Resolution of Disapproval coauthored by Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to reverse the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) “network neutrality” rules.  The FCC approved its new Internet regulations this past December after a federal court ruled the agency lacked such regulatory authority.  The House resolution (H.J.Res.37) comes under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress the opportunity to repeal recently enacted agency regulations.  H.J.Res.37 passed the House this afternoon by a vote of 240-179.  As per the Congressional Review Act, the filibuster-proof resolution now moves to the Senate for consideration, where only a simple majority vote is necessary for passage.

“People in southwest Michigan know that the Internet is free and flourishing today without the guiding hand of unelected government bureaucrats,” said Upton.  “The FCC’s overreaching regulations will cause more harm than good by stifling private innovation, investment, and jobs.  George Will put it best when he observed that most Americans believe the Internet works great and the U.S. government does not – so why on earth would we want to put the government in charge of the Internet?  Free market principles and consumer demand have been the driving forces of the Internet’s success and should remain so today.”