FCC Votes to Restore Net Neutrality Regulations in Effort to Protect Consumer Access

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to reinstate regulations aimed at expanding government oversight of broadband providers and ensuring consumer access to the internet. The decision is set to reignite a longstanding battle over the concept of net neutrality.

The regulations, commonly referred to as net neutrality, were initially implemented nearly ten years ago during the Obama administration. Their primary objective is to prevent internet service providers such as Verizon and Comcast from obstructing or degrading the delivery of services offered by competing platforms like Netflix and YouTube.

Recent History and Partisan Divide

During the tenure of former President Donald J. Trump, the rules were repealed, sparking significant contention along partisan lines. This led to a conflict pitting major tech companies against broadband providers.

In a three-to-two party-line vote, the five-member commission appointed by President Biden moved to revive the regulations. These rules effectively categorize broadband as a utility-like service, subject to regulation akin to that of phones and water services. Additionally, the FCC now possesses the authority to require broadband providers to report and address outages, and to expand its oversight of the providers’ security concerns.

Statement from FCC Chairwoman

Jessica Rosenworcel, the chairwoman of the FCC and a member of the Democratic party, emphasized the significance of the rules, highlighting the crucial role of high-speed internet as the primary mode of communication for numerous Americans.