Federal Communications Commission's Net Neutrality Rules Blocked by Appeals Court
Biden administration's efforts to restore net neutrality put on hold
Landmark Supreme Court ruling paved the way for the appeals court decision
In a major blow to the Biden administration's efforts to restore net neutrality, an appeals court on Thursday temporarily blocked the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) reinstatement of the landmark rules. The FCC's rules, which were scheduled to take effect on July 22, would have reclassified broadband as a public utility, giving the government more power to regulate internet service providers (ISPs).
The appeals court's decision is a victory for ISPs, which have long opposed net neutrality. They argue that the rules would stifle innovation and investment in broadband networks. Supporters of net neutrality say the rules are necessary to protect consumers from being charged higher prices for faster internet speeds or from having their access to online content blocked or slowed down.
The FCC's reinstatement of net neutrality rules came in response to a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 that struck down the FCC's previous net neutrality rules. The Supreme Court's ruling was a major victory for ISPs, and it paved the way for the appeals court's decision on Thursday.
The Biden administration has said that it will appeal the appeals court's decision. It is unclear how long the appeals process will take, or whether the FCC's net neutrality rules will ultimately be upheld.
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