Rep. Walden To Use CR To Block FCC's Net Rules

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House Communications & Internet Subcommittee, Tuesday pledged to introduce an amendment to the continuing resolution (CR) that would block the Federal Communications Commission from using any funds to implement the network neutrality rules.

That came in a speech to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Tuesday in Washington. The CR is the stopgap appropriations legislation that allows the government to keep running until Congress can approve an appropriations bill, so it is a must-pass bill. The current CR runs out March 4.

Such a move by Walden would be in addition to his and other top Republicans' plans to block the rules long-term via a Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.

According to a Walden spokesperson, amendments are due by the end of the day Tuesday. Walden is holding a hearing Wednesday on the network neutrality rules, which were approved by the FCC Dec. 21 over strong Republican objections.

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.