Senate Rejects Measure to Repeal FCC Net-Neutrality Regulation

The Senate refused to kill a U.S. rule barring Internet-service providers including Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) from interfering with subscribers’ Web traffic.

Senators on a 52-46 procedural vote stopped a resolution to reverse the Democrat-led Federal Communications Commission, which last year approved the so-called net-neutrality rule scheduled to take effect Nov. 20.

The Republican-led House passed the resolution in April. President Barack Obama had threatened a veto if the measure reached his desk.

Republicans said the FCC rule amounts to regulation of the Internet, while Democrats said the rule will prevent companies from unfairly blocking or slowing rivals’ Internet offerings.

The regulation would bar Internet-service providers from blocking or slowing online content sent to homes and businesses, while allowing mobile-phone companies to put limits on Web traffic.

Verizon has challenged the FCC’s rule in federal court, saying the agency lacks authority to regulate how companies offer Internet service.

To contact the reporter on this story: Todd Shields in Washington at tshields3@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Shepard at mshepard7@bloomberg.net