Senate saves net neutrality, now onto the House

On Wednesday, the Senate voted to save net neutrality after Republican senators, Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and John Kennedy (La.) joined the group of 49 Senate Democrats.

The vote, which was brought to the Senate floor through “an obscure legislative tool” called the Congressional Act introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, (D-Mass.), passed in a 52-47 final tally.

“Today, we show the American people who sides with them, and who sides with the powerful special interests and corporate donors who are thriving under this administration,” Markey said to the Senate.

In a HISTORIC 52-47 vote—the U.S. Senate just passed the CRA resolution saving #NetNeutrality!

Now the fight shifts to the House of Representatives: https://t.co/haSpTO397N pic.twitter.com/BnuzPQy3do

— Fight for the Future (@fightfortheftr) May 16, 2018

While this is the first step in blocking the FCC’s December decision to gut net neutrality, the measure will need a majority vote in the House of Representatives before heading to the White House for approval.

This time around, net neutrality advocates and supporters will need the support of more than 20 Republicans to join House Democrats to win the vote. If passed, the measure will also need the support of the White House, in which Donald Trump publicly denounced net neutrality on Twitter in 2014.

Obama’s attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target conservative media.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2014

While to some it seems like a long shot, advocates and supporters are relying on the majority of the American people across the political spectrum who support net neutrality. And to get this measure passed in the House, are asking constituents to contact their representatives and make their voices heard on this matter.

We owe this win to the over 400,000 ACLU activists and hundreds of thousands of other activists across the country who are fighting to save #NetNeutrality and the internet as we know it.

— ACLU (@ACLU) May 16, 2018

While the fight continues, “several states, consumer groups, and companies are suing the FCC over the decision, and a few states have enacted their own net neutrality protections,” Wired reported.

“Today’s vote is a sign that the fight for internet freedom is far from over,” Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC Commissioner and supporter of net neutrality, said in a statement. “I’ll keep raising a ruckus to support net neutrality, and I hope others will too.”