While Internet activists and community groups decry the recently adopted net neutrality rules as weak and not protective enough, some U.S. lawmakers are standing on the opposite end, clamoring against the Federal Communications Commission for rules they see as overly stringent.

Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, ranking member on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, plans to introduce a resolution of disapproval alongside Sen. John Ensign of Nevada to halt the new rules. If passed, the resolution could prevent the current rules from taking place and impede the FCC from adopting any similar rules with statutory authority in the future.

Echoing many of her political allies, Hutchison deemed the vote an, “unprecedented power-grab” by the “unelected” commission and a detriment to job growth and innovation.

“The FCC is attempting to push excessive government regulation of the Internet through without Congressional authority and these actions threaten the very future of the technology,” said Hutchison in a statement. “Individuals and businesses alike are rightfully concerned about government attempts to seize control of the Internet, and I will introduce a resolution of disapproval in an effort to overturn this troubling regulatory overreach by the FCC.”

Hutchison introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill last week that would block funding for net neutrality. The amendment is co-signed by Ensign along with six sponsors, including Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Hutchison has unsuccessfully attempted to block net neutrality rules twice before.

Both House and Senate opposition cite the rules as a blow to major telecommunication companies, while net neutrality advocates argue the companies have gained the most from the recent vote. By not banning paid prioritization or protecting mobile broadband from discrimination, critics say the FCC’s new rules ultimately fail to protect consumers and the open Internet.

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In a recent Twitter post Hutchison wrote, “Look who else is regulating the Internet…” providing a link to an article about Internet regulation taking place under Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s Socialist party. The country’s Internet bill is a far cry from the one passed by U.S. federal regulators. Venezuela’s bill prohibits Internet users from disrespecting public officials or inciting violence against the president, and requires traffic to pass through a government-controlled access point, according to the Reuters article linked to by Hutchison.

In 1995, Hutchison voted in favor of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which included the Communications Decency Act of 1996 — that in part attempted to prohibit the transmission of obscene material over the Internet (with criminal penalties ranging up to two years in prison). The U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the Act as unconstitutional in 1996, ruling that it violated the First Amendment.

(Photo: http://hutchison.senate.gov)