Feb. 23, 2015 -- On Wednesday, the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing to discuss the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposed net neutrality regulations. The subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the FCC, is expected to hear testimony from several witnesses critical of the agency’s proposed rules. The chairman of the subcommittee, Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), is working with Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) on a Republican alternative to the FCC’s proposal, but they have not introduced an actual bill. On Thursday, the FCC itself is scheduled to vote on the proposed net neutrality rules.
DATA:
-
Broadband Internet providers gave, on average, 2.9 times more money ($67,272) to members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee compared to members of the entire House of Representatives ($23,186).
-
Broadband Internet providers gave, on average, 3.1 times more money ($74,363) to Republican members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee compared to Republican members of the entire House of Representatives ($24,175).
-
Broadband Internet providers gave, on average, 2.6 times more money ($57,454) to Democratic members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee compared to Democratic members of the entire House of Representatives ($21,896).
-
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, received $189,950 from broadband Internet providers, second only to Rep. John Boehner’s (R-OH) $195,375.
Methodology: MapLight analysis of campaign contributions to members of the House of Representatives from PACs and employees of broadband Internet providers (the cable & satellite TV production and distribution industry and the telephone utilities industry) from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2014. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org.
