Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller said a Republican-led challenge to net-neutrality regulations was an extension of tea-party efforts
A Republican-led challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's controversial Internet competition rules is little more than an extension of a tea party effort to "take government down," Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said on Tuesday.
The Senate is expected to vote on a resolution blocking the so-called net-neutrality regulations as soon as Thursday, according to Senate aides.
The rules, passed by the FCC in December, govern what websites and content an Internet service provider can block.
Senate Commerce ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, is sponsoring the resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would prevent the regulations from being implemented. She says her resolution has gathered 42 cosponsors.
Democratic backers of the FCC's rules are marshaling their forces to beat back the challenge. The House approved a similar resolution in April.
Rockefeller told National Journal he believes there are enough votes to defeat the mostly Republican-backed resolution. He said he addressed the issue at the Democrats' luncheon on Tuesday, and no Democrats expressed significant doubts.