Report: Broadband Industry Contributes Heavily to Republicans

According to Public Integrity, the broadband and wireless industries contributed $81,500 to members of a key House subcommittee after the Federal Communications Commission approved new net neutrality rules in December of last year. Since 2009, large U.S. broadband and wireless companies have donated nearly $1.3 million to members of the subcommittee.

Almost two months later the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s communications and technology subcommittee passed a "resolution of disapproval" of the FCC’s pro-consumer rules. In theory, net neutrality rules block telecommunications companies from charging a higher fee to move certain data faster on the Internet or discriminating against high-bandwidth sites.

Of the $81,500 in contributions to the subcommittee, more than half went to three Republicans who backed the anti-network neutrality resolution. Greg Walden of Oregon, chairman of the subcommittee, received the most, at $19,500, followed by Lee Terry of Nebraska at $16,000. Fred Upton of Michigan ranked third with $11,000. Upton is chairman of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, which also approved the resolution.

The victory is clearly symbolic for Republicans because the measure will never pass in the Senate. A full House vote is expected later this week.

Source: Public Integrity