Politico is reporting that  Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) will announce this morning that he will be the first Republican to sign the discharge petition for the Joint Resolution of Disapproval of the FCC’s December 14, 2017 net neutrality repeal order. He also introduced stand-alone legislation that would, among other things, reinstate the 2015 net neutrality rules and restore FCC authority over broadband. The following statement is attributed to Gigi Sohn:

 I applaud Rep. Coffman for signing the net neutrality discharge petition. The Joint Resolution of Disapproval of the FCC’s December 14, 2017 net neutrality repeal order is the fastest and best way to restore FCC authority to protect consumers and competition in the broadband market. Surely his constituents will appreciate his leadership in taking this important step.

It is now time for Rep. Coffman’s House Republican colleagues to join him in signing the discharge petition so that the chamber can vote on the Joint Resolution of Disapproval.  Signing the discharge petition shouldn’t be a hard  – every recent poll has shown that the 2015 net neutrality rules are extremely popular across party lines.

While I recognize Rep. Coffman’s and his staff’s hard work on stand-alone legislation, that bill has no chance of advancing this Congress. The public cannot wait – it’s right to a free and open Internet can best be restored through the Joint Resolution.

Gigi Sohn is a Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy  and a Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. She was Counselor to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler from November 2013-December 2016. Gigi can be reached for comment at the above email address or at 202-253-0876. More on Gigi can be found at gigisohn.com.