On Thursday, December 14, the FCC repealed net neutrality in a vote of 3-2. They plan on introducing the changes, implemented by the bill, early next year. Until then, Congress could still overturn the FCC's decision. Senator Ed Markey has already planned on using the Congressional Review Act, which makes it possible for Congress to nullify regulations put in place by other government agencies.
Congress' plans to use the Congressional Review Act may face opposition from Republican party members
This nullification of the repeal could be a difficult resolution to pass.
On Wednesday afternoon, 107 Republican Congressmen sent a letter to Ajit Pai, the FCC chairman, saying that they support the repeal. While the signatures are, at times, illegible, 84 names have been recognized. Every one of the known names has received donations from the telecommunications industry, but the donations received are a surprisingly small amount, given the implications of the bill they are supporting. Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona, for instance, gained only $12,250 before he was willing to add his name to that letter. Congressman Randy Weber, Texas, and Congressman Ron Estes, Kansas, both only earned around $13,000 dollars.
There were exceptions; Greg Walden from Oregon, Joe Barton from Texas, and Fred Upton from Michigan have all earned over a million dollars from telecommuting companies.
On the whole, the amount these Congressmen received is insultingly low, when you consider that they were willing to go against the majority voice of the American people to help the companies that donated. If they cared so little about the public's voice when writing that letter, then nothing, save perhaps the anger of their constituents, could convince them to vote against the repeal now.
Two Attorneys General have announced plans to sue the FCC
A nullification through Congress isn't the only way to stop the repeal. The New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, is planning a multi-state lawsuit against the FCC, stating that the repeal threatens the right to a free and open internet and that the FCC should never have gone ahead with the vote when the commenting process was so corrupted.
The Washington State Attorney General has also announced his intents to sue for the sake of a free internet. Many Americans have also protested the repeal, and are asking everyone to call their Congress members to ensure that they nullify the Net Neutrality repeal.