Yesterday, Republicans in Congress introduced a "resolution" in both chambers that would give phone and cable companies absolute, unrestricted power over Internet speech.

Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and John Ensign (R-Nevada) introduced the “resolution of disapproval” on Wednesday. It already has 39 Republican cosponsors. On the House side, Reps. Fred Upton (R-Michigan) and Greg Walden (R-Oregon) are pushing similar measure.

This arcane proceeding under the "Congressional Review Act" would strip the Federal Communications Commission of its authority to speak freely online... at a time when phone and cable giants are already restricting our ability to connect with others and share information.

The resolution is moving quickly through the House. If their resolution passes, the FCC would not just be barred from enforcing its already weak Net Neutrality rule, but also from acting in any way to protect Internet users against corporate abuses by AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.

This is not a symbolic congressional exercise — it's a scorched-earth campaign that leaves Americans at the mercy of a corporate cartel.

We can stop this resolution when it moves to the Senate by getting 51 members to stand with us for online freedom. If we don’t act, we’ll gravely regret it.

Imagine a world where these companies are allowed to do anything they want, ban any speech they don't like, charge anything they can get away with, hold commerce hostage to their profit margins. If this resolution passes, there's nothing anyone could do about it.