04/26/2024

FCC Votes to Restore Net Neutrality Rules

Commissioners voted to revive the rules declaring broadband a utility-like service

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to restore regulations that expand government oversight of broadband providers and aim to protect consumer access to the internet, a move that will reignite a long-running battle over the open internet.

Known as net neutrality, the regulations were first put in place nearly a decade ago under President Barack Obama's administration and are aimed at preventing internet service providers like Verizon or Comcast from blocking or degrading the delivery of services from competitors like Netflix and YouTube. The rules were repealed under President Donald Trump, and have proved to be a contentious partisan issue over the years while pitting tech giants against broadband providers.

In a 3-to-2 vote along party lines, the five-member commission, appointed by President Joe Biden, revived the rules that declare broadband a utility-like service regulated like phones and water. The rules also give the FCC the ability to demand broadband providers report and respond to outages, as well as expand the agency's oversight of the providers' security issues.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The New York Times.