Democrats Shy Of 1 Vote To Restore Net Neutrality

Senate Democrats say they need just one more vote to overturn the Federal Communication Commission's recent vote that did away with net neutrality.

So far, all 49 Senate Democrats and Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, have thrown their support behind the resolution of disapproval. Democrats need just one more vote for the resolution to pass, which would restore net neutrality.

The FCC voted 3-2 in December to repeal the body's rules enforcing net neutrality, the principle that internet service providers should give equal access to all online content. The three Republicans on the committee voted to repeal the rules, while the two Democrats voted to preserve them.

Proponents of net neutrality argued that getting rid of the rules would open to door to internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to take advantage of consumers. Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has said that repealing the rules would end the federal government's micromanaging of the internet.

Under the Congressional Review Act, the Senate has 60 days to disapprove of a regulatory rule issued by a federal agency.

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