April 8, 2011
For Immediate Release

Contact: Kamilla Kovacs
202.454.5685
press@mediaaccess.org

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today passed legislation that, if enacted, would reverse the Federal Communications Commission’s December 2010 network neutrality rules. The bill invokes procedures under the Congressional Review Act, a measure that permits Congress to overrule agency decisions.

The following statement can be attributed to Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Senior Vice President and Policy Director of Media Access Project:

“Instead of defending free expression, the House of Representatives today opted to strip away even the minimal protections for Internet users put in place by the FCC. At a time when the nation faces important financial and international problems, it is disgraceful that the House leadership has wasted so much effort on a bill that will never make it to the President’s desk, much less to become law.”

On Monday, the White House issued a statement indicating that President Obama will veto any legislation that does not safeguard the free and open Internet.

Read the White House’s Statement of Administration Policy at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/112/saphjr37r_20110404.pdf.

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Media Access Project is a nonprofit, public interest law firm working to protect free expression, innovation, and economic growth by promoting low cost, universal access to media outlets and communications services.