CCIA, Engine, Others Press Hill Leaders on Avoiding Net Neutrality Omnibus Riders

Trade groups representing tech companies upped pressure on House and Senate leadership Wednesday with a letter opposing inclusion of policy riders in the FY 2016 omnibus appropriations bill that would curb the FCC’s net neutrality order. “We are writing to urge you to refrain from including riders relating to net neutrality and the [FCC]’s Open Internet Order in the upcoming omnibus spending legislation,” said the letter, led by the Internet Freedom Business Alliance and signed by groups including Cogent Communications, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, Engine, Incompas, Level 3 and Tumblr. They blasted earlier House riders that would have stopped implementation of the order while litigation pends and forced posting of FCC items upon circulation. They argued for a different venue for consideration of the other rider’s topic. The one bicameral rider from earlier this year would prohibit FCC broadband rate regulation. “To be clear, we agree with the committees that retail rate­setting may be a harmful practice; however, the rate regulation riders that passed the committee process are drafted in a broad manner that could create unintended consequences for telecommunications policy by eliminating FCC safeguards for broadband markets, Internet entrepreneurs, app makers, and Internet users alike. (We note too that the FCC has forborne from rate­setting and tariffing provisions in the current rules),” the letter said. “To that end, we request the issue be addressed through regular order, a more thoughtful and pragmatic approach, rather than in the often chaotic appropriations process.” Government funding runs out Friday, and lawmakers are advancing a continuing resolution that would fund the government through Wednesday while they continue to negotiate the provisions of this omnibus spending bill. The Senate approved the short-term funding bill by voice vote Thursday. Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., wants “a bipartisan, bicameral omnibus deal to keep our government open and off autopilot, without including poison pill riders or leaving any bills behind,” she said Thursday.