19 Association of Research Libraries Research Library Issues 293 2018 Democratic caucus plus Senator Collins (R-ME). The resolution has already surpassed the minimum number to force a vote on the floor in the Senate, which Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) has stated an intention to do. Since reaching fifty co-sponsors, proponents of net neutrality have launched a #OneMoreVote campaign, targeting Republicans who have indicated openness to supporting the resolution or who are perceived as vulnerable in the upcoming elections. While a vote is expected in the Senate, the House may choose not to bring the resolution to the floor. Although it has 150 co-sponsors, Democrats cannot force a vote, though passage in the Senate may put pressure on the House to act. However, even if the resolution were to pass both houses of Congress, President Trump is already on record opposing net neutrality and would likely not sign it. Democrats may still use this effort to make net neutrality a key issue during the upcoming midterm elections in the United States. Alternatively, Congress could rewrite the Communications Act and change the scope of the FCC’s current rule. Under this process, it is more likely that a compromise bill would result—if enough members of Congress could agree—rather than the strong protections that the 2015 Open Internet Order reclassifying broadband as a common carrier provided. Several bills and discussion drafts have circulated in Congress during the many years of FCC consideration of these rules. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), for example, introduced the Open Internet Preservation Act, a bill identical to Representative Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) bill filed in the House that would prohibit ISPs from blocking or throttling content, but would allow for paid prioritization. Any “compromise” resulting in paid priority agreements, is one that net neutrality advocates, including ARL and other higher Any “compromise” resulting in paid priority agreements, is one that net neutrality advocates, including ARL and other higher education and library associa- tions, have strongly opposed.
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