Editor’s Note: Cross-posted from OIRA Watch.
From: Inverse
Bureaucracy + Divided Congress = Nothing Happens
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Technically, We Still Have “Net Neutrality” — For Now
As Democrats and activists rally the troops, it’s important to point out that the “Restore Internet Freedom” plan, as it’s been inaccurately titled, has not actually happened yet. The plan, which opens the door for internet service providers to conduct blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of internet content, was slated to be a done deal on April 23; two months after it was published in the Federal Register. But Pai has left large portions of the plan in need of approval of the Office of Budget Management before it can take effect. Because the Pai is asking for transparency from ISPs about their business practices under the new plan, the changes need to be reviewed by the OMB before they can move forward. And we don’t know when that will be.
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If and when the OMB does approve what’s needed to pass the Restore Internet Freedom plan, it then will head back to the Federal Fegister, for another 60 days. “Then they become official,” Farber says. “I’m not a lawyer, but then they become official provided there aren’t any lawsuits.”
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