The Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules got closer to official status Thursday evening when the FCC filed the documents with the Office of Management and Budget. That’s the last stop before the rules reach President Obama’s desk for signature.
This stage is to determine whether the new industry reporting requirements will comply with federal standards for data collection, according to the National Journal. Internet service providers and the public now have 30 days within which to comment.
The FCC established its Internet traffic rules in December, and it required Internet service providers to disclose information about how they managed their networks. Some companies protested that collecting all of that information and doing all of that paperwork would be “burdensome” and therefore not within the federal standards, but the FCC countered with an estimate that complying with the disclosures would only take about 10 hours a year.
Thursday’s filing increased that time estimate up to 32 hours a year.
“The FCC’s estimate of the paperwork burden has already tripled. One has to wonder whether the FCC will also finally admit it has grossly underestimated the burden on innovation, investment, and jobs,” said Energy and Commerce chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Telecom subpanel Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) in a statement.
The Hill observed the likelihood of legal challenges to the rules based on the assertion that the FCC has exceeded its authority under the Communications Act by issuing these rules.
Related Links:
National Journal post: http://tinyurl.com/3lvzcdf
The Hill post: http://tinyurl.com/3otfmqq
