Net neutrality has survived another challenge.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate rejected a motion to proceed on its “resolution of disapproval” of the Federal Communications Commission’s Net Neutrality rules.

The resolution failed by a margin of 52-46.

The measure, introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), was an effort to reverse the FCC’s December 2010 rules intended to prevent Internet service providers from blocking or discriminating against content and applications on the Web.

The SavetheInternet.com Coalition reported that calls and emails from citizens across the country led to the vote against the measure.

Craig Aaron, president and chief executive officer of the Free Press Action Fund, said the Senate sent a strong signal to would-be gatekeepers that the free and open Internet needs to stay that way.

“The American public doesn't want phone and cable companies undercutting competition, deciding which websites will work or censoring what people can do online,” Aaron said. “And this shows that the Senate, for today at least, is willing to stand up to extremists who would rather waste time with partisan measures than make good policy.”

He said the fight for real net neutrality continues.

“Now that this appalling legislative stunt is finished, I hope policymakers can return to the actual priority here: strengthening these rules to protect all Internet users, no matter if they connect from their home computer or a mobile phone,” he said. “Free Press will continue to push the FCC to make better rules and to actually enforce them. Today's vote is a major victory for the public, but the fight for the free and open Internet is far from over.”

 

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