Free Press: Dems Backing Net Neutrality Bill Now Total 214

Free Press Action said that, as of Tuesday morning (April 9), hours before the planned debate on the Save the Internet Act, 214 Democrats have now signaled their support. 

The official number of co-sponsors was cut off at 197 last week as the bill started to move toward the floor, but sponsor Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) said that number had swelled to 209 by Monday night, and Free Press said that was now 214, noting several Dems who had voted for it in committee and adding them to the list. 

“The momentum of the Save the Internet Act is a stunning reflection of the public support for real Net Neutrality protections," said Free Press Action's Sandra Fulton. "People across party lines understand that without Net Neutrality rules grounded on the strong legal foundation of Title II, our ability to create, seek and share information is in jeopardy." 

But the bill still needs three more Dems (the House currently has 432 members with three vacancies), or failing that, three Republicans to cross the aisle on the issue, an unlikely scenario. "Any holdouts in Congress need to stop neglecting bipartisan public demand for Net Neutrality safeguards and support of this bill," said Fulton.

The Trump Administration is advising the President to veto the bill if it makes it past the House and the Republican-controlled Senate, which even some Dems agree is a tall order.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.