Rumors that the FCC will try to create new net neutrality rules before the end of the year have received a cold response from Members of Congress, who say any such changes to Internet regulations should be handled by them directly.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a letter circulated by several members of Congress on Friday reads in part, “Approximately 300 members in the House and Senate from both sides of the aisle have indicated that the questions raised in the net neutrality rulemaking are better left to Congress.”

“Rather than poison the well before the new Congress is sworn in, I urge the FCC to stand down on any movement toward net neutrality and work together with the new majority when the 112th Congress convenes in January,” added Rep. Fred Upton.

Upton’s comments were echoed by Rep. John Dingell, who wrote a letter to the FCC reminding them that their authority to regulate online communications has already been questioned by the courts. "It is in the best interest of consumers that actions taken by the Commission be within the limits of its statutory authority in order to avoid litigation and uncertainty in industry," Dingell wrote.

Rep. John Shimkus said that the FCC’s proposal would hurt broadband innovation at a time when the industry has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise challenging economy: "The FCC should not be trying to institute a government takeover of the one industry that is currently expanding and creating jobs when we currently have close to ten percent of Americans unemployed," Shimkus said.

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