Federal Court Hears Landmark Challenge to FCC Net Neutrality Repeal
A federal court hears arguments today as consumer groups and states challenge the FCC's rollback of Obama-era net neutrality rules. The case centers on whether regulators acted legally when they reclassified the internet as a lightly regulated information service.
A federal court hears arguments today as the Federal Communications Commission defends its decision to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules. The original regulations prevent internet service providers from prioritizing certain websites or apps over others. Under FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the agency repeals these protections in favor of a hands-off approach that allows internet companies to charge websites for faster access to customers.
Several consumer groups, technology companies, and Democratic-led states challenge the repeal in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The legal arguments focus on whether the FCC acts properly when it classifies the internet as a lightly regulated "information service" instead of a strictly regulated "telecommunications service." Challengers argue that the FCC abandons its mandate to ensure a free and open internet by ignoring established law, facts, and previous court decisions.
The Verge calls this challenge one of the most important cases in internet law history. Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel states that the rollback puts the agency on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of the law, and the wrong side of the American people. This massive legal battle unfolds despite more than 20 million public comments filed with the FCC, the majority of which oppose the repeal of the net neutrality rules.