Internet security is a key issue in 2015. Obama announced a pair of new cybersecurity bills on Monday, and a military social media account was hacked by a group of pro-Islamic State hackers.
Congress has also gotten involved in the game with their recent focus on net neutrality. In fact, they may try to preempt the FCC before it can change things.
Both House and Senate Republicans will host hearings next week that may enact a series of legislation to enforce net neutrality as well as make it difficult for the Federal Communications Commission to regulate broadband providers, Ars Technica reported.
If current reports are correct, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is supposed to unveil a plan for net neutrality that will reclassify broadband as a common carrier service, which will place it under the jurisdiction of Title II of the Communications Act . While this change would allow Congress to enact net neutrality, it will apply landline restriction to broadband; something that both ISPs and Congressional Republicans oppose. These two parties are willing to discuss applying net neutrality, but the FCC must not apply Title II to Broadband.
That's why Sen. John Thune (R-SD) is scheduling a hearing to establish a set of 11 "bipartisan rules for the internet age." The rules will prohibit blocking, throttling and paid prioritization, as well as requiring transparency from cable companies and allowing reasonable network management and specialized services. Most notably, these rules would define broadband as an "information service" - an act that would stop the FCC from reclassifying the internet access.
"Clear and reasonable rules are what every business and consumer needs and expects-this also applies to the Internet.....The FCC currently has limited options to write rules that escape the uncertainty of litigation while protecting innovation. Clear statutory authority from Congress is necessary to update FCC authority for the Internet Age, escape court challenges, and avoid regulatory overreach from outdated laws," Thune said.
It's likely that Thune will receive a lot of support from his fellow Republicans, though he may receive resistance from some members of Congress who have expressed their disagreement with net neutrality principles, such as Ted Cruz.
The hearing, titled "Protecting the Internet and Consumers through Congressional Action," will occur on Wednesday, January 21.
