Waxman: Net-neutrality amendment is ‘poison’ that could kill spectrum bill

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) warned on Thursday that a controversial anti-net-neutrality amendment from Republicans could sink a popular spectrum bill that both parties are fighting to get into law.

The amendment from Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) would restrict the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) ability to impose net-neutrality conditions on wireless companies that purchase spectrum leases at auction. The FCC adopted net-neutrality rules last year that prohibit Internet providers from slowing down or blocking access to legitimate websites.

Democrats say the rules protect consumers and promote competition, but Republicans say they are an unnecessary burden on businesses and amount to government control of the Internet.

{mosads}The Senate voted down a Republican bid to repeal the FCC’s rules last month.

Waxman said Republicans had agreed during negotiations over the spectrum bill to drop the net-neutrality provision to attract Democratic support. Waxman warned that adding Blackburn’s amendment could derail the legislation, calling it “poison.”

“You can add this [amendment] if you want, but the Senate is not going to accept it,” Waxman said. “It may bring down the whole bill.”

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology adopted Blackburn’s amendment to the spectrum bill on a voice vote, with Democrats shouting their dissent.

Soon after the vote, Blackburn’s office released a statement touting the amendment.

“I am extremely pleased that the committee accepted my amendment to make sure the FCC can’t use the licensing process as a back-door means to impose job-killing rules on communications providers,” she said in the news release. “The American people know that excessive regulations are destroying jobs, and my proposal will make sure the FCC is held in check.”

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) said Blackburn’s measure was really an attempt to hamstring the FCC’s ability to implement its rules. “Whenever this issue comes up, I’m there with the fly swatter,” she said.

The underlying spectrum legislation contains many provisions with broad bipartisan support. The bill would incentivize television broadcasters to give up their spectrum for the government to auction to mobile broadband companies and would establish a nationwide public-safety wireless network. Lawmakers say the bill would create jobs, cut the deficit and protect public safety.

A Senate version of the legislation passed the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in June on a vote of 21 to 4, and is strongly backed by committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.). The measure is still awaiting a vote in the full Senate. 

The House subpanel approved the spectrum bill on Thursday over Democratic opposition after Blackburn’s amendment was included. 

—Updated at 3:48 p.m.