No Democratic Leadership Signal on Net Neutrality Legislation Limits Options, Green Aide Says
Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, would be interested in seeing net neutrality legislation considered but there has to be a green light with both parties’ leadership first, a Democratic staffer told us Friday. There’s no real green light from Democratic leadership,…
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the staffer said. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said last week that the bar for any legislation would be the net neutrality proposal put forth by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. Green has opposed Communications Act Title II reclassification of broadband, which the FCC is planning to do in an order to be considered Feb. 26. Green has led multiple letters among Democrats slamming a Title II approach. The Capitol Hill Republicans preparing net neutrality legislation also strongly oppose Title II, and their legislation would codify net neutrality protections while limiting FCC reliance on Title II or Section 706. They have aggressively sought Democratic backers to no avail, they have said, with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., telling us the only chance of avoiding Title II is Democratic backing of the legislation (see 1501270044). Green has interest in a permanent legislative solution that could get bipartisan support, with a wide selection of stakeholders on board, the Democratic staffer said. There’s some potential support among Democrats, but there has to be a true partnership and a space to do it, he said. Title II reclassification may not be permanent if courts overturn it, he added. The staffer compared Green’s position to that of House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Both told us last week they would be very open to bipartisan negotiation on legislation following the FCC’s Feb. 26 vote (see 1502040047).