The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to vote on bringing back net neutrality rules that were removed under former President Trump later this month, the agency’s chair announced Wednesday.
If agreed upon, the plan would reinstate the rules from the time of Obama that prevented broadband providers from stopping or slowing down internet traffic to certain websites and prioritizing access to others that pay extra.
“The pandemic proved once and for all that broadband is essential,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel noted in a statement.
“After the prior administration gave up control over broadband services, the FCC has been unable to take proactive steps to fully secure broadband networks, protect consumer data, and ensure the internet remains fast, open, and fair,” she continued.
“Returning to the FCC’s widely popular and court-approved standard of net neutrality will once again allow the agency to advocate strongly for an open internet,” Rosenworcel added.
The plan would also give the FCC more authority over broadband companies, enabling the agency to address outages, security concerns, and harm to consumers, the chairwoman stated.
The FCC will vote on reinstating the net neutrality rules at its April 25 meeting. The agency voted 3-2 along party lines in October to move forward with the process, after gaining a Democratic majority following a two-year delay over a previous nominee.
The net neutrality rules, which were initially approved by the FCC during former President Obama's term in 2015, were revoked during the Trump administration in 2018.
As the FCC gets ready to vote on the plan later this month, industry groups have already strongly opposed the move. USTelecom, a trade association representing broadband providers, argued that bringing back net neutrality rules goes against President Biden’s Internet for All initiative.
“So here we go again. It’s been two years since the White House asked Congress and the country to be all in on Internet for All,” USTelecom president and CEO Jonathan Spalter stated.
“But just as this goal is now within reach, the FCC is slowing down with this completely counterproductive, unnecessary, and anti-consumer regulatory distraction. America deserves better,” Spalter added.
