Many Democrats and Independent lawmakers have call on the FCC to delay its vote to rollback net neutrality protections, and now at least one republican has asked the agency to delay the vote.
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) sent a letter to FCC chairman Ajit Pai to ask him to delay the net neutrality rollback vote and let Congress pass registration on the issue. “The Internet has been and remains a transformative tool, and I am concerned that any action you may take to alter the rules under which it functions may well have significant unanticipated negative consequences,” Coffman writes. “Therefore, I urge you to delay your upcoming vote and provide and provide Congress with the opportunity to hold hearings on the net neutrality issue and to pass permanent open Internet legislation.”
Thx to everyone who has contacted me in regards to #NetNeutrality. Below is the letter I sent to Chairman @AjitPaiFCC today to ensure the continuation of a free and open #internet. pic.twitter.com/oKqh7lxaLI
— Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) December 12, 2017
Coffman says that Congress can find the “right balance” on how to regulate this issue. He writes about the four previous chairman at the agency by saying that “all took steps to uphold the basic principles that guaranteed a free and open internet.”
Coffman isn’t the only one to criticize the FCC’s net neutrality rollback plan. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) criticized the proposal last month, and few other representatives have also released cautious statements criticizing the proposal. Coffman concludes his letter by saying that “I greatly appreciate your consideration and look forward to working with you to find a permanent legislative solution to ensure the continuation of a free and open internet.”
