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Capitol View®
Brett Neely

Franken condemns proposed FCC ‘net neutrality’ rules

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WASHINGTON - Al Franken is not pleased with a new proposal to regulate internet traffic put forward by the chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Franken calls it "deeply troubling" and "misguided."

The DFL Senator is one of Congress's loudest voices in favor of so-called 'net neutrality' rules to make sure that Internet Service Providers such as Comcast do not prioritize the data coming from companies that pay ISPs more for preferential treatment (not coincidentally, Franken is vociferously opposed to Comcast's planned merger with Time Warner Cable, in part because of concerns that the merged company would have too much control over broadband internet connections).

FCC Chair Tom Wheeler put forward a new net neutrality proposal on Wednesday after a federal court struck down the agency's earlier attempt at rule making earlier this year. Wheeler's proposal allows ISPs to create "fast lanes" for websites such as Netflix or Hulu if the company pays more for the access.

“The notion that the FCC might create a fast lane for deep-pocketed companies is deeply disappointing and very troubling," said Franken in a statement. "Chairman Wheeler’s proposal would fundamentally change the open nature of the Internet, and I strongly urge him to reconsider this misguided approach."

The full text of the proposed rules will be made available to the public on May 15 and the FCC is likely to vote on them before the end of the year.

Franken's office also released a letter from Netflix condemning the Comcast merger on the grounds that the new company will be powerful enough to squelch competitors. At a Senate hearing about the merger earlier this month, Franken was Comcast's most vocal critic.