Senate Commerce Republicans Warn USDA on ReConnect 'Net Neutrality' Scoring Rubric
Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune of South Dakota led a letter with Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker of Mississippi and 11 other panel Republicans urging the Agriculture Department to “reverse” its “decision to provide additional scoring points”…
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in its criteria for the ReConnect program for “applicants that commit to net neutrality” (see 2110220040). USDA said in October it would provide additional points to applicants that provided a board resolution or equivalent document committing that its networks wouldn’t engage in blocking, throttling or paid prioritization. “Any effort to impose unnecessary ‘net neutrality’ restrictions would be dangerous to our nation’s dynamic broadband economy and threaten future investments in broadband infrastructure,” the Senate Commerce Republicans wrote Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It is deeply troubling that USDA is suggesting it has the authority much less the qualified staff and expertise to make determinations about ‘lawful Internet traffic.’ If USDA decides to make attempts at regulating the Internet absent authority from Congress, it would lead to tremendous legal and marketplace uncertainty.” USDA plans to “respond as promptly as possible,” a spokesperson emailed.