Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote on the reinstatement of net neutrality rules this month, marking a significant shift from the Trump administration’s deregulation of broadband internet. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the upcoming vote, scheduled for April 25, to restore the Obama-era regulatory framework for broadband internet services that was rolled back by the Trump administration in 2017.
The Biden administration’s proposed rule would classify broadband services as an essential resource under Title II of the Communications Act. This move aims to prevent broadband providers from blocking, slowing down, or establishing pay-to-play internet fast lanes, thus ensuring an open internet for consumers. However, former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai criticized the plan, arguing that the internet has flourished since the repeal of net neutrality rules in 2017.
Supporters of net neutrality believe that reinstating the rules will protect consumers and prevent potential abuses by broadband providers. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who was involved in reversing the net neutrality rules in 2017, expressed skepticism towards the necessity of reinstating the regulations. Carr pointed to the failure of doomsday predictions made by proponents of net neutrality after the rules were repealed in 2017.
In 2015, the FCC implemented the Open Internet Order under the Obama administration, which established net neutrality rules to ensure a free and open internet. However, the Trump administration rolled back these regulations in 2017 with the Restoring Internet Freedom rule, citing concerns about innovation and investment in broadband networks. President Biden’s executive order in 2021 recommended the FCC to reinstate the Obama-era net neutrality rules, leading to the current vote.
As the FCC prepares to vote on the reinstatement of net neutrality rules, the debate continues among lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and consumer advocates. While some argue that the regulations are necessary to protect consumers and ensure fair access to the internet, others believe that such rules could stifle innovation and investment in broadband infrastructure. The outcome of the upcoming vote will have far-reaching implications for the future of internet regulation in the United States.