Rep. Greg Walden to FCC: What's the Hold-Up on Net Neutrality Order?

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) raised concern this week about how long it is taking the Federal Communications Commission to get net-neutrality regulations on the books. The agency passed the new rules in December. Walden added that he is not excited to have the rules enacted but is nonetheless curious about what is taking the agency so long.

"I’m curious as to why it’s taken the FCC so long to file their network-neutrality rules in the Federal Register. It’s not that I’m eager to have their rules proceed, but it does raise some questions," said Walden, the top Republican on the Communications subcommittee.

He also questioned whether the FCC is following the proper procedures and if the delay is in some way a tactic to derail a GOP effort to repeal the rules using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Walden's repeal measure is scheduled for a full House vote on Friday.

"Is the delay because of a failure to meet all of the procedural requirements? Or is the delay a means to slow a repeal vote in the U.S. Senate or challenges in court?” he asked.

The FCC responded, shooting down the notion of foul play.

"There is no delay," an FCC spokesman told The Hill. "The order quite simply is going through the normal process for clearing Paperwork Reduction Act requirements before being published in the Federal Register." According to the spokesman, the order can't be published until Paperwork Reduction Act requirements are met and a 60-day comment period at the FCC has passed. The deadline for that ends April 10.

Source: The Hill