Boehner Pledges To Fight Internet Regulation

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told a gathering of Christian media leaders Sunday night that he will lead the charge against the Federal Communications Commission’s efforts to enforce net neutrality rules.

“We see this threat in how the FCC is creeping further into the free market by trying to regulate the Internet,” Boehner told members of the National Religious Broadcasters. “The last thing we need, in my view, is the FCC serving as Internet traffic controller, and potentially running roughshod over local broadcasters who have been serving their communities with free content for decades.”

In December, FCC members voted 3-2 to approve net neutrality regulations. However, led by Boehner, the House voted earlier this month to deny the FCC funding to implement those rules. The measure was attached to a budget bill that cut spending for the rest of this year by $61 billion. It remains to be seen whether the FCC funding will be reinstated if and when Republicans and Democrats agree to a budget.