In a move closely watched by Web developers, the U.S. Senate voted 52 to 47 to repeal the recent Federal Communications Commission order rolling back the Obama-era net neutrality rules. Republicans Lisa Murowski (Alaska), John Kennedy (Louisiana) and Susan Collins (Maine) joined with the Senate Democrats in order to pass the measure.
Congress has the right to counter federal agency rules under the Congressional Review Act. However, in order for the measure restoring net neutrality to go into law, it would also have to be approved by the Republican-dominated House and signed by the President.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a strong opponent of net neutrality, said, “It’s disappointing that Senate Democrats forced this resolution through by a narrow margin. But ultimately, I’m confident that their effort to reinstate heavy-handed government regulation of the Internet will fail.”
